MarkBrown, President/CEO (left), Sazerac Company Inc, receives a gift from Robert Hamaty, Tortuga Rum Co Ltd.

Local firm Tortuga Rum Co last week named Gemini Spirits & Wine Co as its exclusive importer in the United States.

Gemini is one of the fastest growing developmental brand builders in the US, according to Tortuga Rums.

In 2006 Majestic Distilling in Lansdowne Maryland introduced Tortuga Gold Rum and Tortuga Light Rum into the US, and in August 2007 launched Tortuga-flavored rums: Tortuga Coconut, Tortuga Banana and Tortuga Spice.

This new relationship with Gemini Spirits & Wine, the firm said, will utilize Gemini’s industry expertise and extensive sales network to expand the Tortuga brand’s early success in the US market.

“We are extremely pleased to take on US distributorship of Tortuga Rums,” said Ken Kwarta, VP/General Manager for Gemini Spirits & Wine.

“Rum is a growth category and we foresee substantial opportunity to grow Tortuga, building on the success the Tortuga brand has achieved in the Caribbean islands.

“The consumer awareness resulting from the Tortuga Rum Cake business in the US will assist in our development of the Tortuga Rum brand, which in its own right is well known to the more than two million annual visitors to the Cayman Islands.”

“This new relationship is an excellent springboard for the Tortuga Rum brand,” said Robert Hamaty, founder and Managing Director of Tortuga Rum Company, Ltd.

“Gemini Spirits & Wine has a long tradition of building successful brands in the American market. We believe that Tortuga is an excellent fit into their brand portfolio and look forward to being their next success story.”

Gemini Spirits & Wine Company has a long tradition of bringing fine wines and spirits from around the world to discriminating consumers in the United States. Founded in 1934, the company’s early years were focused on importing exceptional French wines.

A major departure took place at the 1964 World’s Fair when the company launched Yago Sangria, which became the first two million case imported brand in the US.

PepsiCo acquired the business in 1972, giving PepsiCo rights to Stolichnaya, a 10,000 case brand at the time, and other respected brands such as Concha y Toro. The company flourished during 1977-79 and became the only US wine importer to have five 100,000 case brands.

The company was also building Stolichnaya into a great brand during that period, by 1993, Stoli was 1.2 million cases. In early 1994, U.S. distribution rights for Stoli were moved to Carillon as a result of industry changes.

After over 60 years of continued success, the New Orleans-based spirit company Sazerac acquired the company in 1994. Sazerac is a privately held, family owned business. Gemini Spirits & Wine Company is headquartered and run from its offices in Chicago, Illinois.

Mr Hamaty and his wife, Carlene, started the Tortuga Rum Company in 1984 and it has grown to become one of the largest duty-free and retail liquor business in the Cayman Islands. The company also has franchise bakeries in Jamaica, Barbados and the Bahamas.