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Mattuga Distillers launches crowdfunding campaign

Scottish rum producer Mattuga Distillers has launched a crowdfunding campaign to raise £30,000 (US$38,600) to support its “ambitious expansions plans”.

Matugga Distillers CEO Jacine Rutasikwa and master distiller Paul Rutasikwa

Last month, Matugga Distillers opened a new site in Livingston – thought to be the first rum distillery in central Scotland. The company produces Matugga Golden Rum and Matugga Spiced Rum, which were originally produced in England before moving production to Scotland.

Husband-and-wife team Paul and Jacine Rutasikwa, founders of Mattuga Distillers, have now launched the campaign on Crowdfunder to “accelerate production following the surge in demand” for their products. The pair also said they had been “inundated with requests to invest”.

The funding will be split between investment in additional equipment and entering new markets.

In exchange for funding, rum fans will receive one of just 1,000 limited edition bottles of the distillery’s new rum, Mavuno 2018, which will be ready by the end of January 2019.

The expression marks Paul’s “year of hard work, experimentation and the harvest of intensive research and development”.

In Swahili, mavuno means ‘harvest’ – an important time in East Africa when the fertile farmlands return the investment of a year’s hard work.

In addition, 12 investors will be be invited to lay down their own cask filled with 2018 new make rum, which will be aged for three years in Matugga’s bonded warehouse in Livingston.

Paul, who is also master distiller of the company, said: “We have been overwhelmed and humbled by the response to the opening of our new distillery; particularly the volume of requests to invest and enquiries about laying down rum casks.

“This is clearly testament to a growing global appreciation of artisanal spirits and a culture of consumers backing start-up drinks firms that have a unique story to tell.

“Participants in our crowdfunder will have the opportunity to own a part of Scotland’s rum history while helping to drive forward our exciting plans for the distillery and the creation of new jobs.”

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