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Silk Road seeks new name for rum after trademark spat
London-based start-up Silk Road Distillers has launched a crowdfunding campaign in a bid to raise funds for the relaunch of its white spiced rum following a trademark conflict over its name.
The new name must reflect the white spiced rum’s “unique brand heritage”
In October last year, Silk Road Distillers claimed to have created a “brand new spirit category” with the launch of the UK’s “first” white spiced rum.
The rum has now been temporarily retitled Rum with No Name after its co-founder George Agate was told he couldn’t use its original name, Silk Road White Spiced Rum, due to a conflicting EU trademark.
As a result, Agate has set up a crowdfunding campaign on Crowd Funder to help the company rebrand its rum. Agate hopes to raise £5,000 (US$6,120) through the fundraising drive.
Consumers can pledge as little as £5 (US$6.10) with the rewards on offer including tickets to the re-launch party, limited edition bottles and a personal mixologist for the night.
All the contributors will be given the chance to suggest a new name and win a year’s worth of rum.
The white spiced rum uses six vapour-infused botanicals during the distillation process, which is said to create a “delicate, light and more refined” spirit. Agate created the rum to be served with tonic water.
The company was inspired by Agate’s tandem cycle around the world, where he followed the Silk Road east from Istanbul. The inspiration is reflected in the geometric design of the rum’s label.
Agate is looking for a name to reflect the rum’s “unique brand heritage, which lies in adventure, pursuit of the un-ordinary and celebration of the eccentric”.
There are three rules when it comes to the name: it should be four syllables or less, it should work across many languages and not cause offence, and it can’t be called ‘Rummy McRumFace’.
The Rum with No Name crowdfunding campaign will run from 25 May to 8 June 2020. To promote the fundraising drive, Agate will host a live Q&A on Instagram to mark its launch on Monday 25 May.
In addition, there will be a cocktail masterclass with Adoreum Members Club on 28 May and a Gin and Rum Festival takeover on Facebook Live at 7pm BST on 30 May.