Brand Ambassador, The Island Rum Company: DIN HASSAN

Published by
Jose Rafael Hoffmann

Din Hassan is a veteran with 30-year experience in this industry. Started as a poolside waiter at the age of 15 years and slowly climbed up to operations manager. Consultant for hotels, clubs and bars around Asia and now working as a Brand Ambassador for The Island Rum Company.

TRL: What does the rum mean to you? 

Rum is friendship and you can drink it neat, with ice and cocktails. 

TRL: What made you fall in love with rum and when did it happen?

As soon as the CEO (Adele) contact me for the job and I study more about Rums and love it more and more

TRL: What is the most important contribution you have made to the rum industry? 

When we launched our rum in 2019 we started a campaign called Tears: ”N” Tonic just to get some Gin Tonic lovers to love Rum & Tonic.

TRL: Benefits that the rum industry has given you. 

Meeting new people, networking, getting to travel to bar shows and getting to taste different types of Rum.

TRL: What’s another thing you are passionate about, in addition to rum? Why? 

Traveling to visit distillery and go to cocktail bar to try their rum cocktails

TRL: What is your favorite place for drinking rum? 

Kempinski Hotel Singapore

TRL: Favorite drink + Recipe:

60ml Black Tears Dry Spiced Rum, 5ml Frangelico (stir in a mixing glass) and Squeezed Lime.

TRL: Why is it important to educate the rum consumer? 

To make them understand that different countries have a different character

TRL: How can the rum contribute to improving the crisis in some countries? 

We are starting to work with the Malaysian/Philippine Embassy to do a charity drive and part of the sales we will donate to the organizer.

TRL: Who would like to meet in the rum industry? What would you say to him/her? 

To our team and would said thank you, it’s been a while.

TRL: What are your next goals in the rum industry? 

We want to make sure people enjoy Rums and share knowledge with them about our industry.

TRL: Plans you have when you leave the rum industry. 

No plan yet but maybe it will distill my own spirits…

TRL: Why is the role of the bartender important in the rum industry? 

Bartenders are very crucial for us as they are the ones who have a better chance to engage with consumers and they are also very innovative people. I’m quite lucky that I’ve been a bartender for over 3 decades.

TRL: What is your advice for new generations in the rum industry? 

Consistency, asking lots and lots of questions and tasting different types of rums but drinking responsibility.

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

https://www.instagram.com/dinhassan
https://www.blacktears.com/
Jose Rafael Hoffmann

Creative Director and Concent Manager for EmpresasFH and Director of HOFFMANNdesign. Born and raised in Caracas, Venezuela, Mr. Hoffmann has been one of the most important designers for prestigious companies in South America, including Disney, Cartoon Network, Mattel among others.

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