St. Vincent Distillers Ltd.

History

During the early 1900s, Mt. Bentnick Estate Limited built a distillery in Georgetown, about 21 miles from Kinstown, to make use of the readily available molasses from the sugar factory next door. In 1963 the distillery changed names to St. Vincent Distillers Limited. The new company was formed to better respond to the changing business envirornrnent. As the island's economy shifted from sugarcane to bananas, the distillery was faced with the increased costs and logistics of importing molasses, essential to the production of rum. In 1983 a new crop of sugarcane was planted and hope was restored for an inexpensive domestic source of molasses. The sugar mill was refurbished with equipment from Trinidad, and with the promise of cheaper raw material and renewed economic optimism, new distillation equipment was ordered from England by the local government.

About 21 miles from Kingstown, the capital of St. Vincent, located in the northern part of the island is St. Vincent Distillers.

During the early 1900, Mt. Bentinck Estates Limited built a Distillery to make use of the readily available molasses from the sugar factory, which was conveniently located next door. The Distillery then was called Mount Bentinck Distillery.

The Mt. Bentinck Distillery operated successfully until 1963, when the Mt. Bentinck Estates sold the Distillery to the Government. It was at this time that the name was changed from Mt Bentinck Distillery to St Vincent Distillery Limited. The sugar mill also closed operations in that year, due to the absence of the sugar cane crop, which was being replaced with banana crops.

With the island's economy now shifting to Bananas, the Distillery was now faced with the increased cost of importing molasses, the product essential to the productivity of Rum.

In 1979 a new crop of sugar cane was planted, with hopes for an inexpensive domestic source of molasses. The sugar mill was refurbished and reopened in 1980. The Distillery, in 1980, under went major upgrade, with the installation of new machinery purchased from England, and in 1985, the first rum from the Distillery was produced. Unfortunately, in those five years, the sugar mill did not prove profitable, and closed its operation in the same year of 1985. Bananas once again became the essential cultivation, resulting in the Distillery having to import molasses once again. Molasses are imported to this very day.

In 1996 the Government decided to privatize the Distillery, and it was consequently sold to the private enterprise of C.K. Greaves & Co. Ltd.

St. Vincent Distillers bottles a variety of rum products ranging from white rum to aged blended products. The most popular white rum is know as Sunset Strong Rum which is 84.5% Alc. Vol. The Sunset Light Rum is produced as a smooth white rum, bottled at 40% Alc. Vol. Sunset Premium Rum, and Captain Bligh Golden Rum, are both aged rum, with a unique smooth, palatable flavour, desirous of all "Brown" rum connoisseurs.

St. Vincent Distillers are also proud of their production of Rum Punch, a popular drink throughout the Caribbean, This mixture consists of Rum & Tropical Fruit Juices.