Scotland’s second rum distillery seeks funding

A husband and wife have launched a crowdfunding bid to establish Scotland’s second rum distillery on the Moray coast.

David and Lara Beach are seeking funds to open Scotland’s second rum distillery

David and Lara Beach are aiming to raise £65,000 to open Beach Craft Spirits, which they hope will be operational by next spring.

Currently, the only rum distillery in Scotland is Dark Matter Distillers, based in Banchory. The distillery’s first product, Dark Matter Spiced Rum, launched in April last year.

Beach Craft Spirits is offering investors a number of benefit investment packages, ranging from £50 to £1,000.

Those who choose the top-tier funding option – of which there are 30 available – will receive a launch party ticket, personally bottle 700ml of rum at the distillery, receive a three-year-old in a handcrafted driftwood presentation box, a t-shirt and hoodie, sample bottles of new flavours, branded glasses, six rum stones and a beanie in the Beach Craft colours.

Once operational, Beach Craft Spirits will produce a spiced rum, a sloe rum and an “intense” rum made using fruit, coffee and liquorice.

“It has been so busy the last few months trying to get this up and running. We have sold what we can of our own to get started and we are now ready to move to the next stage,” said Lara Beach.

“We want to people who have a passion for spirits and of course, in particular rum to get involved. The craft gin market exploded onto the scene a couple of years ago and craft rum is going to emulate this success.”

David Beach has 16 years’ experience in the drinks industry and previously worked for Diageo.

“There is an abundance of local gin distilleries popping up all over Scotland and the United Kingdom offering people a wide range of choice of gins with exciting flavours,” he said. “The rum market is completely different and is dominated by the mainstream players. We would be proud to become only the second rum distillery in Scotland.”

The distillery will source ingredients from local suppliers and use “specially selected” sugarcane molasses distilled in “purpose-made” copper stills.

“This is not a pipe dream or some ‘pie in the sky’ idea. It has been well thought-out and researched. Forecasts show that craft rum sales will explode in the same way as gin has; hence our strapline, ‘It’s a Shore Thing’,” added David Beach.

“Our goal is to create a range of drinks that encompass the beach lifestyle. Beach may be our name, but it’s also where we feel most at home. Our spirits are aimed at people who have a similar vision to us, who like to work hard, but play hard too.”