The Botanical Rum Revolution with Timber Botanical Rum: CHRIS LOW AND NEIL ADAMSON

Chris Low and Neil Adamson, two Edinburgh residents, put an unexpected spin on traditional rum. They are the founders of Timber Botanical Rum, a Scottish brand that re-distills botanicals, similar to gin, to offer a cleaner, smoother, and fresher rum.

In just three years on the market, they have already won over palates in local shops, bars, and markets, earning a place in the UK craft rum scene. How did this idea come about? What sets Timber apart from the rest? And what can we expect from this brand in the future? Learn more about them in this interview:

TRL: What was the biggest challenge you faced in launching your rum brand, and how did you overcome it?

The biggest challenge was just getting Timber Botanical Rum to market. The idea and development were started during the pandemic, which made things challenging, but not impossible. We were both new to this specific industry, so it was an enormous learning experience, but at the same time, a fun journey that has taught us so much.

A lot of time was spent on R&D, sampling different flavours, label design, finding fulfillment partners, and so on. We overcame this by forming close, friendly relationships with our suppliers and providers. Being new to the industry and being open about this helped us form healthy relationships that we still have today.

TRL: How do you see the rum market developing in the next 5-10 years, and what trends do you think will shape the future of the industry?

The rum market looks very promising over the next 10 years. As we have seen, with the explosion of gin and all its varieties, we believe that good quality rum is the next big thing.

There is room for a variety of products in the market, but top-quality rum with a difference is key to our success. We certainly feel we have a unique product that appeals to many customers.

TRL: Can you share a personal experience or moment that significantly influenced your brand’s direction?

Just as lockdown was ending, Chris and I got together to see what direction we wanted our rum to go in. We were not allowed indoors, so one lovely spring evening we sat in my garden and mulled over where we should go with our product. After some brainstorming, Timber Botanical Rum was born.

There is an entertaining story about that specific reason, which will be kept a secret. If you are ever at one of our rum markets, we will enlighten you! This type of collaboration continues to this day and works well, as we have the same mindset and vision for our product.

TRL: How do you balance tradition with innovation in your approach to rum-making or marketing?

We have tried very hard not to copy anyone else. We want to be unique, and we think we have done that. We cannot grow sugarcane in Scotland, so we import high-quality base rum from the Caribbean. We add in local Scottish produce where we can, which forms part of our secret ingredients.

This makes Timber Botanical Rum traditional, but with a twist, as we have made it using the botanical method, instead of the traditional filter method used by some spiced rums. It was very important to us that we make a rum that was a sipping rum. However, we never tell people how to enjoy our rum, everyone has their own preference.

TRL: What are some recent initiatives or products you’ve launched that have been impactful?

Timber Botanical Rum was developed as a sipping rum with the potential of developing other flavours. However, we chose not to do this because it is already an incredibly versatile spirit that pairs well with many quality mixers and can be used extensively in cocktails too.

TRL: How do you educate consumers about your rum, and what’s the most important lesson they should take away?

We encourage our customers to taste the product. We advise them that it is a lot smoother than they probably expect, and in most cases, they are surprised and enjoy it.

We try to get our customers to try it straight up initially, and most people are shocked at how good it is, even being a 40% spirit. We have turned several rum drinkers into Timber Rum fans.

There is no single “right way” to enjoy our rum, but we are delighted when both regular rum drinkers and those who have never chosen rum before are convinced by the smooth, original taste of Timber Botanical Rum.

TRL: How do you manage quality and consistency as your brand grows and enters new markets?

At the moment, we are relatively small compared to some other companies. This means that Chris and I can monitor quality, ensuring our rum is the best it can be.

We make sure the high-quality botanicals we source remain the same, where possible, and, of course, the top-quality base rum we use.

TRL: Can you share a collaboration or partnership that helped elevate your brand to additional levels?

We have collaborated with several mixer companies. This has helped us identify top-quality mixers that we can share with customers to allow them to enjoy our rum in different ways.

TRL: What is your long-term vision for your rum brand, and how do you see your role in the rum industry’s evolution?

The sky’s the limit. There are so many opportunities out there for our unique rum. We are looking at exporting overseas soon, with markets in Scandinavia, the Netherlands, and the USA being seen as potentially interesting markets. 

In the future, we may also develop an aged Timber Botanical Rum, using the same ingredients but ageing it in a specific type of cask to add a distinct element to our rum brand.

TRL: What’s one piece of educational advice you would give rum lovers to better understand the spirit?

Don’t dismiss rum out of hand. When we sell at markets, we constantly hear “I don’t like rum”. Don’t be too quick to judge. It may surprise you. 

Timber Botanical Rum can be enjoyed in a wide variety of ways- as pure sipping rum, but equally with mixers, such as ginger ale, or in cocktails like rum sours, which are showcased on our informative website.

TRL: How can people learn more about you? Website? Social media page?

www.timberrum.com

www.instagram.com/timberrum

www.facebook.com/Timberrum