Bahari Rum Seeks to Position Kenyan Rum in the African Market

Alcohol consumption in Kenya is increasing along with the varieties of spirits launched in the local market. The high alcohol consumption rates and a new generation of drinkers have attracted investors and distillers from over the world to the country. Among these are home-grown distillers making craft beers, gin, and rum.

Cyril Villemain and Maximilien Photiou, who founded Bahari Rum, are among the rum distillers. The two Kenyan-based Frenchmen named their crafted dark rum, inspired by their love of the Coast region, where they source sugarcane to produce their spirit.

Bahari Rum’s sugarcane comes from Kwale County, and the distillery, based in Nairobi, has a capacity of 5,000 liters daily. At the factory, the molasses are fermented, distilled in a copper pot still, and then aged in new American oak barrels, which gives them their rich brown color and flavor.

Bananas, vanilla, a hint of spices, and a minty, fresh aftertaste are the main flavors of Bahari Rum. It smells like wood and slow-cooked bananas. Along with a master blender, Villemain and Photiou have created a pure, natural product free of added sugar, colorants, or other additives.

They have launched two types of Bahari Rum, each named after an East African trade wind: 

• Cuvée Matali: The Bahari blue label consists of a three-year-old blend. It is an accessible premium spirit that would be appreciated by whisky and cognac drinkers. Still, it is not as expensive as XO or VSOP labels.
• Bahari Cuvée Kaskazi: A single-cask rum of 2010 vintage made from Mauritius rum and bottled in Kenya. A single cask means every bottle comes from the same barrel without blending. The 12-year-old is a rare edition, and they make only 150 bottles a year. Limited editions like this orange label are rare, but they are becoming a trend in the rum industry.

Bahari Rum is sold at premium stores, high-end bars, and out-of-the-box eateries. Although rum consumption in Kenya is still in its early stages, the country is making a mark with a newly-crafted dark rum. Slowly, rum is getting out of its street origins and being associated with luxury items.

According to Bahari Rum’s founders, the global rum consumer is looking for new origins, which is beneficial for Africa, as it is a virgin territory with a long way to go. Their long-term plan is to export Bahari around Africa, offering a range between three and 12 years. They are exporting to Rwanda, Ghana, the UAE, a few countries in West Africa, and soon to Europe.

Featured image source: Orgzarol.com