Central Scotland’s first rum distillery to launch crowdfunding campaign

Since the opening of the distillery in October, husband and wife team – Paul and Jacine Rutasikwa – have been inundated with requests to invest; with interest coming from as far away as Japan.

Now the rum firm is responding to spirits fanatics; inviting them to back the campaign in return for a slice of Scotland’s rum history in the making.

As part of the programme, rum lovers will own one of just 1,000 limited edition bottles of the distillery’s new addition to the award-winning Matugga Rum range – Mavuno 2018.

Twelve rum connoisseurs will also be invited to lay down their own cask filled with 2018 new make rum; which will be aged for three years in the distiller’s bonded warehouse in Livingston.

Aiming to secure at least £30,000, the funding will support Matugga Distillers’ ambitious expansion plans and allow the firm to accelerate production following the surge in demand for their golden and spiced rums ‘crafted with African soul’.

The funding will be split between investment in additional equipment in order to increase spirits production and taking the distillery’s growing rum portfolio to new markets.

Master distiller, Paul Rutasikwa, said: “We have been overwhelmed and humbled by the response to the opening of our new distillery; particularly the volume of requests to invest and enquiries about laying down rum casks.

“This is clearly testament to a growing global appreciation of artisanal spirits and a culture of consumers backing start-up drinks firms that have a unique story to tell.

“Participants in our crowdfunder will have the opportunity to own a part of Scotland’s rum history while helping to drive forward our exciting plans for the distillery and the creation of new jobs.”

In Swahili, mavuno means the ‘harvest’ – an important time in East Africa when the fertile farmlands return the investment of a year’s hard work.

Matugga Rum Mavuno 2018 celebrates the best of Paul’s year of hard work, experimentation and the harvest of intensive research and development into rum.

The crowdfunding initiative will run throughout November and will offer a series of limited edition ‘rewards’ including:

To take part in the crowdfunding campaign, visit: www.crowdfunder.co.uk/matuggarum.

The 1,000 bottles will be ready by the end of January 2019.