From the Editor: The Pursuit of Sweetness
For the Rum Central team, 2019 was our busiest year to-date and 2020 is starting with the promise of even faster growth.
In the USA, the Craft Beverage Modernization Act, with its reduced Federal Excise Tax for craft distillers, has been extended for all of 2020, ensuring industry members can reinvest more of their profits into inventory, equipment, additional staffing and business development. Will the reduced rate become permanent after the end of the year? Lobbying groups worked diligently towards that goal for this year and will continue to do so over the next 12 months.
Luis Ayala, Editor of "Got Rum?" magazine, Rum Consultant and Founder of The Rum University
Luis Ayala, Editor and Rum Consultant
Premiumization in the Rum category continues to increase, a good sign even when overall rum volumes may be falling or stagnant (at least in the USA). The large industry players, who are being affected the most by the volume reductions at the lower price-points, have also diversified their portfolios quite extensively, taking equity positions in many craft brands that are thriving.
New rum festivals continue to pop up around the world, additional proof that interest in the category is on the rise, among organizers and consumers.
CBD (cannabidiol) production and applications continue to drive an emerging industry and large alcohol companies have taken notice. The amount of research funding allocated to the incorporation of CBD into alcohol products is mind blowing (no pun intended), with regulatory agencies struggling to keep up.
This issue also marks the starting point of a new series (Rum Aging Science, pages 14-21) in response to inquiries from craft distillers and consulting clients who want to better understand the inter-operability framework and the science behind aging rum.
Starting this year, “Got Rum?” will also be taking a more active role promoting rum festivals and training opportunities around the world (see pgs. 30-31 for more information). Look for our contributing writers, they too will be more active attending rum events near and far!
Cheers!
Luis Ayala, Editor and Publisher