From the Editor
Luis Ayala, Editor of "Got Rum?" magazine, Rum Consultant and Founder of The Rum University
Luis Ayala, Editor and Rum Consultant
The month of March has finally arrived and, with it, the promise of Spring, nature’s awakening, outdoor activities, increased social celebrations and, as a result, higher sales volumes for those of us in the alcohol beverage industry.
Through our bulk rum and bottled rum clients (via Rum Central), we still hear of struggles with slow-paying distributors, which affect brands’ ability to grow, even survive. But we also hear of optimism, as consumption in some tiers remains strong.
Through The Rum University classes and through our private rum consulting services, we continue to see new and established distilleries and brand owners adjust to a changing economic landscape, reacting to -and even anticipating- obstacles.
I have said it before and it is worth repeating: our industry seems to attract people with a high level of resilience and determination, which is comforting during tough times.
The US Congress has approved an increase in the Federal Excise Tax Cover Over to rums from Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands, for more information please turn to page 38. If you are in the rum business and you still don’t know how this affects the landscape and your ability to sell your rums in the USA, you really need to do some reading on your own or to attend training specially designed to impart this type of business intelligence. The Rum University’s courses for 2025 have been announced and there are still seats available for “The Business of Rum” which will take place on April 21 at our campus in Texas, please visit www.rumuniversity.com for more information.
American writer Mary Mapes Dodge once wrote:
“In the snowing and the blowing,
In the cruel sleet,
Little flowers begin their growing
Far beneath our feet.”
So, even if you are facing struggles due to non-paying distributors or a decrease in consumption in your home market, don’t give up the hope! Better times are coming: you just need to be prepared to recognize the opportunities.
Cheers!
Luis Ayala, Editor and Publisher
http://www.linkedin.com/in/rumconsultant