The West Indies Rum Distillery (WIRD) in Barbados is reintroducing its Rockley Still to production, marking its first use since the 1950s.

Founded in 1893, WIRD has been involved in rum production for over a century, using a mix of equipment, including traditional pot stills, column stills, and a ‘Vulcan’ still, a type of triple chamber distillation unit that functions like a series of connected pot stills.

The old Rockley Still

The Rockley Still's origins are traced back to the late 18th century, before WIRD was even built. David Pym of John Dore Coppersmith, a renowned UK copper still manufacturer suggested that it could be one of the oldest functioning pot stills today. 

The still, named after the erstwhile Rockley Plantation situated in the southwest region of Barbados, was crafted around the late 1800s and was incorporated into WIRD’s collection by the 1930s.

The rums it churns is said to be very full-bodied; think smoky, think medicinal, toss in a bit of honey, and for good measure and pronounced ester influences. 

To restore the Rockley Still, WIRD transported it to Cognac, France, where it underwent approximately 500 hours of work. Post-restoration, the still, with a 2,000-litre capacity, was returned to Barbados, ready for production.

According to Alexandre Gabriel, the owner of WIRD, the company would begin using the Rockley Still in November this year. He also indicated the company's intention to produce fresh white rum, with a portion of the produce being aged.

Upcoming: Sealander Rum

In addition to the reintroduction of the Rockley Still, WIRD plans to release Sealander Rum later this year. This brand, scheduled for a 25 September launch, draws inspiration from multiple rum-producing regions: Barbados, Mauritius, and Fiji.

The rums will be transported to France for blending and subsequent aging in Ferrand barrels. This means that the rums would thus not be entirely tropically aged.

For those in the loop, there has been an ongoing discussion among rum producers in Barbados and the government regarding the Geographical Indication (GI) protection for Barbados rum.

Rum-makers have been locked in a tango with the government for about three years. The government's stance? They won't nod to the proposed law unless major rum distillers see eye to eye on the specifics. A notable point of contention is WIRD's disagreement with the stipulation that labelled "Barbados Rums" be exclusively aged in Barbados (a stipulation that would prevent Europe-matured rums from being labelled as "Barbados Rums".

Kanpai!

88 Bamboo Editorial Team