As American rum companies are growing in number and stature, a new association has been formed to represent their common interests. The American Rum Association, founded by Kelly Railean of Railean Distillers in San Lean, Texas will endeavor to empower American distillers of cane spirits, according to a statement issued on November 12, 2012.
The non-profit trade organization is open to all producers of rum in the United States, excluding the territories of Guam, USVI, Puerto Rico, etc.
North American history is rich with rum based enterprises, largely in New England, that made the finest spirits in the world before the American Revolution. Rum was the original American spirit before an egregious tax on molasses from British territories in the Caribbean region -- the main ingredient used to make rum -- became an underlying cause of the split with mother England.
A new era of enlightenment and re-discovery is underway across the United States as many new rum companies are being established throughout the country. High quality rums are being hand-crafted by artisans in many states, and the trend is clearly accelerating in recent years.
The mission of the new American Rum Association is to grow the domestic rum category to one that rivals the world's imports by promoting the production and appreciation of American rum through education, marketing, and regulatory influence. The organization hopes that for the first time in history, the American rum industry will have a cohesive marketing strategy that will differentiate American rum from imported brands. This trade association will also provide a unified voice for media, politics, and regulatory agencies.
Kelly Railean said "there are over 80 American manufacturers of rum operating in the USA and it is time to establish quality standards for "American Rum." Ask any American rum manufacturer and they will tell you that the main obstacle to growing the domestic rum category and their small business is the unfair tax subsidies offered exclusively to rum companies operating in U.S. territories such as Puerto Rico and USVI. These subsidies restrict free market competition and give global manufacturers such as Bacardi and Diageo an unwarranted hold on the American rum market. The American Rum Association is fully committed to exposing these unfair practices and providing products made in the U.S.A.; thus providing jobs, fueling our American economy and aiding in the recovery of our economic system."
Taxes, regulations and prohibition destroyed the American rum industry. Now, it seems there is growing support among domestic distillers to restore the American rum industry to it's rightful position in the world market.
