Carsten Vlierboom CEO & Master Rum Blender at E & A Scheer

CARSTEN VLIERBOOM
CEO & Master Rum Blender at E & A Scheer

1. Who is Carsten Vlierboom ?

Graduated at one of the top Hotel Management Schools in the world my destiny was to provide great service to guests staying at fine hotels, but my career took another path. Military service brought me to the Dutch Airforce, into logistics and from there I moved into Phamaceutical wholesale until a headhunter suggested my talents were needed with a family company they knew. I walked into E&A Scheer 25 years ago and found a great Rum company and the Spirits industry which has kept me smiling ever since. Now I get to provide users of bulk Rum with great service in supplying custom made Rum blends every day of my working life.

 

2. Rum. What does it mean for you? What made you fall in love with rum and when did it happen?

The love for Rum came to me when starting at Scheer and the team explaining me the base product, fermentation choices, distillation options and the resulting palate of Rum types which can be blended to achieve a vast array of styles, and tastes.

 

3. Three essential characteristics that define the rum according to your perspective.

– Rum has the widest possible range of distillates under 1 common name

– Rum has incredibly many stories and traditions, history and future

– Rum is a happy spirit, and there is a rum for every taste

 

4. Share the most important contribution you have made in the rum industry?

Sharing my love for Rum and having had the opportunity to create Rum blends for many different brands all over the world

 

5. Benefits that the rum industry has given you.

Great friends, great travel and a wide perspective on cultures

 

6. What is your favorite place for drinking rum?

Drinking with friends, any place is good for Rum, but having that in the Rum producing countries, with local specialists is really the best.

 

7. Favorite drink + Recipe

Straight on the rocks or a simple serve, Rum and Ginger Ale.

 

8. Why is it important to educate the rum consumer?

There are so many misconceptions about Rum which is not strange as Rum is such a diverse category of spirits. Education on the many choices in Rum and how it is made is key.  Let the consumer realise what makes the differences, not to judge what is the best or worst Rum, but to be able to choose what they like.

 

9. Name whom would you like to meet in the rum industry? What would you say to him/her?

In my Rum life so far I have had the fortune to meet many great producers, incredible Rum blenders, influencers, brand ambassadors, brand owners and also many genuine Rum enthousiasts. It would be fantastic to meet even more of those and just speak Rum to them.

 

10. Plans you have when you leave the rum industry.

No plans to leave, just love this industry. Just want to make sure I can pass some of the acuired knowledge on to future generations.

 

11. What is your advice for new generations in the rum industry?

Understand the basics, learn about the versatility of Rum, enjoy good blended Rums, work together as a category and make consumers forget about the other spirit categories as Rum has it all.

 

12. How can people learn more about you? Website? Social media page?

Simply www.rum.nl