Shakespeare Distillery has launched a new and unique white rum - ‘Jester’ - to accompany its portfolio of handcrafted premium products. The independent artisan spirit producer, based in Stratford-upon-Avon, has been distilling gin for the past five years on its premises - the products inspired by the Tudor period, which is ingrained in the history of the town.

The name ‘Jester’ is taken from the famous sculpture of a Jester, which sits in Henley Street, just yards from Shakespeare’s Birthplace.

Most of the rum on sale in the UK has been imported, and Shakespeare Distillery is one of only a handful of distilleries in the UK to create its rum in its entirety onsite. The big misconception with rum is that it is assumed that the alcohol and flavour are both created during the distillation process – this is not the case! Gin gets its flavour from being distilled with botanicals, whereas rum’s unique flavour and alcohol comes from fermentation.

Shakespeare Distillery’s own fermentation is a 7-day process in which the unique combination of yeast, water and sugar creates both flavour and alcohol, bubbling away slowly in ‘Titania’, its new, aptly named fermenter.

The distillers skillfully and meticulously ferment sugar cane molasses to craft this base. By using molasses, a superior and more characterful flavoured rum can be produced. The rum is then distilled twice producing a final bottled white rum of 40% ABV. The rum combines tropical fruits with a hint of citrus and buttery smooth molasses make for a rich, yet mildly sweet finish.

The rum is available in three bottle options, priced at £34 for a 50cl bottle, £17.50 for a 20cl bottle and £6 for 5cl bottle. These can be purchased online or from the distillery shop for click and collect and customer visits. Free delivery is offered within the UK on all orders over £35. Purchases can also be made at Shakespeare Distillery’s own Stratford town centre shop at No 1 High Street from 12 April.

Peter Monks, Director at Shakespeare Distillery said “Having established our business five years ago, our gins have gone from strength to strength. We are passionate about experimenting with quality spirits and wanted to create a new spirit that was different and bold. We are delighted to launch our first brand of premium, handcrafted white rum and I am so proud of the entire team, who have worked hard during a year of lockdowns, to produce this truly delicious Warwickshire-made rum. We’re very much looking forward to our loyal customers getting to taste it and I know they won’t be disappointed.”

Shakespeare Distillery will also be launching a spiced rum in mid-May and have begun aging rum in barrels for release at a later date. The distillery aims to establish itself as a producer of UK rum, both own brand and white labelled over the next 3 years.

Established in 2015 by Simon Picken and Peter Monks, Shakespeare Distillery is an independent artisan spirit producer based in Stratford upon Avon. Everything they produce is in small, handcrafted batches, ensuring they can devote time and attention to creating the best tasting spirits around. The range of award-winning gins are available to buy in many local wine and spirit outlets, bars, restaurants, and hotels, with a fast-growing range of stockists. The company also offers distillery tours to discover how gin is made as well as offering a gin school, shop, seasonal gin tasting river cruises and cocktail masterclasses. In February 2020, the company won the New Tourism Business Award in the West Midlands Tourism Awards for their destination distillery experiences.

For more information head to https://www.shakespearedistillery.com/