Margherita Olivieri wins the final of The Duppy Share Carribbean Rum Competition.
The Competition
It took place on the evening of June 8th, at the Clandestine Sushi Bar by Moreno Cedroni, the final of the Duppy Share Caribbean Rum Competition, the first edition of a competition that awarded the best convivial cocktail for two people.
The winning drink, victorious among the ten original finalist recipes, had the requirement to contain at least 8 cl of product from the range, and was chosen by a jury made up of industry experts and renowned bartenders such as Paolo Gargano (CEO of Fine Spirits ) and Luis Brendle (Export Manager of The Duppy Share), as well as chef Moreno Cedroni himself.
Winning the coveted prize, two tickets to Barbados, and an exclusive guided tour of the Foursquare distillery, was Margherita Olivieri of the Bistrotto from Bogliasco.
He took second place Marco Maria dell'Accio del Marè of Cesenatico, and to the third Andrea Arcaini of Rita Tiki's Room in Milan.
The Duppy Share: from legends to record sales
Duppies are ghosts – or spirits – featured in many Caribbean legends. Originally from Jamaica, they are known for their great passion for rum. According to tradition, they are the ones who wander around the distilleries and steal the Angel Share, that is, the best part of the rum, which ages in oak barrels and evaporates over time. Like the duppies of legend, too The Duppy Share, London brand independent founded in 2015 by George Frost and Jessica Swinfen, is committed to researching the best rums in the Caribbean, with which it creates unique blends.
Protagonist of record sales in the UK for some time The Duppy Share is conquering international markets with its contagious energy and aim to celebrate not only the best Caribbean rums, but the Caribbean as a whole, with all the warmth and beauty they carry with them in the common imagination.
It all started when George Frost, son of the famous journalist David, in love with the Caribbean and rum, listened to the explanation of the Angel's Share concept given by a bartender to a customer, with a related parenthesis on Caribbean spirits; in that moment, it was like all the pieces fell into place. Finally, Frost had found the main idea he had been spinning around for some time – creating a new rum brand – and also the perfect name.
Jessica Swinfen, an experienced start-up consultant, joined the project shortly afterwards, and for the next nine months Frost and Swinfen traveled around the Caribbean looking for distilleries – just like duppies. The goal was to find a rum that was accessible, but also of great character, and the choice very quickly fell on types of rum from Jamaica and Barbados. Each Caribbean island has a distinct style: Barbados rums tend to be smooth, lighter than Jamaican rums, which are powerful and rich in esters. The harmonious union between these two types of rum created the first rum of The Duppy Share, the Aged.
The range
The Duppy Share launched in 2020 the Spiced, 100% Jamaican Pot Still produced from a blend of white rums from Worthy Park and Clarendon, and enriched with 10 organic Caribbean spices, including kola nut and ginger; a balanced and quality rum, rich in soft pineapple aromas that give sweetness, and with the lively burst of spices to add depth.
The following year came the White, produced from the same base as Spiced with the intention of celebrating Jamaica and its culture; created to be the first white rum to drink neat and in shots, but also excellent for accompanying white rum-based cocktails, its birth saw the creative collaboration of the rapper and musical pioneer Kano.
The latest addition to the Duppy Share family is theXO: produced from a blend of various vintages of molasses from Barbados, it contains a Foursquare 5 YO, an 8 YO (95%) and a 12 YO, aged in ex-bourbon barrels in a tropical climate, and then transported to England for bottling. A high quality rum scented with violet, caramel and dried apricots, rich in vanilla and caramelised aromas, with a rich, slightly smoky and fresh finish.
About Fine Spirits
The Duppy Share it is distributed exclusively for Italy by Fine Spirits, an import and distribution company specialized in quality spirits, often produced by artisan companies and micro distilleries. Alongside prestigious brands such as the Scottish whiskeys Dalmore and Glendronach, Longueteau rum, Japanese gin Ki No BI, Sherry Valdespino, the portfolio includes some of the most interesting and qualitative companies of recent years, including Isle of Harris, Kyrö, Transcontinental Rum, Mhoba Rum and the innovative Italian distillery Winestillery.
