Rum Connoisseur
Interview of the Week

MATHILDE DE RAMEL
Export Manager at Casoni Distillery

1. Who is Mathilde de Ramel?

Mathilde is an Italian-French blend. Her love for the art market brought her to the spirits industry at an early age. She started working at Bacardi-Martini as an off-trade assistant on the Martini plant in Italy. She was then hired by Rhum Clement (GBH Group) to become a Brand Ambassador. She helped develop the Agricole rum in Europe. At this period, she also supported Chase Distillery and Fentimans ltd. She became a sales rep for a spirits importer in the Netherlands, handling brands like Don Papa Rum, Worthy Park Rum, Marca Negra Mezcal, and Richland Rum. But she felt she was lacking the ‘’bottler side’’ of the industry, so she signed with By the Dutch to become an export manager. The company deals with Genever, Gin, and Batavia Arrack Rum.

Unexpectedly, a distillery from Mauritius reached out to her and asked her to move back to Italy to become a European area manager. Nowadays, among other responsibilities, she is helping Daniele Dalla Pola and Casoni Distillery to develop Alamea exotic infusions internationally. Last but not least, she was selected to be part of the international sugarcane spirits awards jury.

 

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

Rum found me: from sharing a ti’punch with relatives to becoming Brand Ambassador at the age of 23 years old. What made me fall in love with rum is Culture and the People involved in the industry. Bringing and sharing with the world, terroir, and the hard work of people producing it is breathtaking. Above all … Rum is fun! Rum makes you travel in tropical spots by staying home.

 

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

Rum is:

– Terroir: Rum emphasizes a particular culture, a surrounding and History

– Wild: Thanks to its diversity and versatility, rum knows no boundaries of consumer taste, place of production, and savoir-faire.

– Way of life: Rum is fun..! It brings conviviality and hospitality. It is a free state-of-mind spirit.

 

4. Benefits that the rum industry has given you.

You cannot choose your family, but you can choose your rum family! By traveling through distilleries, by meeting new cultures and people, the rum industry has taught me humility. Moreover, by confronting yourself daily with the on-trade and off-trade industry, you learn about hospitality.

 

5. What other thing you are passionate about, in addition to rum? Why?

Art as a whole is my passion. I love deeply the fact that we can share around the world what someone at a certain place at some point in History has created (painting, sculpture, verse, spirits…)

 

6. What is your favorite place for drinking rum?

Seated at the beach with friends on a tropical island… The time of the day is not important. Rum and company are the keys!

 

7. Favorite drink + Recipe

It is not a cocktail, but a ritual: Ti’punch

Less is more and “chacun choisi sa propre mort”

My “death” (treat) will be:

– Clean rum

– Lime zest

– Ice cube

 

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

Rum is a wild world. As much rum and production methods you get to learn brighter become your understanding. You will be able to choose wisely for your next sip.

 

9. How can the rum contribute to improve the crisis in some countries?

Among all the advantages, the rum industry is offering job positions. It also brings awareness of cultural and economic realities through Rumtourism (Oenotourism). As another example, we have just recently experienced distilleries producing ethanol for sanitary purposes (disinfectant, hand sanitizer …) to fight covid-19.

 

10. Is the commitment to sustainable development the key to success for the permanence of the rum industry in the world? Why?

Sustainable development is a matter of common sense. If you want to envision a future and keep performing in the long run, you should be sustainable (preserving your environment, empowering your people…) Sustainability is about respecting what brought you here and gave you a job.

 

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

In the rum industry, I would like to meet Maggie Campbell and Kate Perry. We have been in touch but did not get the chance to meet in person yet. I would also love to visit Karin and Erik Vonk at Richland Estate in Georgia USA.

 

12. What are your next goals in the rum industry?

My goal is to keep fighting for more transparency towards the consumer and banning unjustified price speculation.

 

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

The rum industry won’t let me leave!

 

14. Why is the role of the bartender important in the rum industry?

The bartender is the Ambassador of your rum. He/She is educating consumers. He/she has the immense responsibility of answering client questions and making the final consumer discover the world of rum.

 

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

Be careful! When you will head to the rum industry, you will fall in love. Broader your mind, go flirt with other spirit industries, see what’s happening elsewhere and come back. Trust me, you will come back.

I had the chance to experience different markets and industries (gin, genever, cognac, tonic water…) I came back with a clear mind, more ideas, and best practices. Those experiences reinforced the vision I have for the rum industry.

 

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

Keep an eye on the next international sugarcane spirits awards and see you around!

https://www.instagram.com/mathil2ramel/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/mathildederamel/detail/recent-activity/posts/