Demerara Distillers facts for kids
Demerara Distillers Ltd. (often called DDL) is a big company in Guyana. It is very well known for making El Dorado Rum. At one point, DDL was the second largest rum maker in the whole world!
About Demerara Distillers Ltd.
Demerara Distillers Ltd. (DDL) is a company that is owned by many different people (it's "publicly owned"). Its main office is in Georgetown, the capital city of Guyana. DDL owns several other companies, like Demerara Fire and General Insurance Company Inc., Solutions 2000, Demerara Contractors Limited, and Topco.
DDL was one of the first five companies in Guyana to get a special quality certificate called ISO 9001. This certificate means their products are made to a very high international standard, which helps them sell goods to other countries.
Years ago, when the government managed DDL, it became the world's second largest producer of rum. In 1988, DDL was one of the first government-owned companies to become partly private. This meant the government owned less of the company, and more shares were sold to the public.
In 2006, DDL bought some shares in a company called National Rums of Jamaica.
Yesu Persaud was the chairman of DDL until 2013. He helped Guyanese businesses a lot and received a special award called the Cacique Crown of Honour in 1983.
Komal Samaroo became the new CEO (Chief Executive Officer) of DDL in 2014. In 2021, he talked about how important it is for Guyana to keep its food and farm products moving safely to other countries.
How El Dorado Rum is Made
DDL says that the special taste of their rums comes from the oak barrels they use. These barrels are where the rum ages, and they give it a unique flavor. Guyana's warm, tropical climate also helps the rum age well because of the high humidity and steady temperatures.
The rums are made by mixing different batches (called "vintages") that come from different stills. These mixtures are then aged in the oak barrels.
Promoting El Dorado Rum
Even though many people around the world know El Dorado Rum, DDL works hard to make sure it's as popular as other drinks like vodka.
DDL supports many local events in Guyana. For example, they sponsor chess tournaments, Guyana Fashion Week, Soca Monarch music competitions, and Mashramani events, which are big celebrations in Guyana.
DDL was also a partner for the first Caribbean Premier League cricket tournament in 2013. They sponsored the "Catch of the Match" award, which was given to a player who made a great catch in each game.
The Guyana Tourism Authority, working with the Caribbean Tourism Organization, also started a "rum route" tour. This tour lets people visit places like Uitvlugt Estate and Blairmont Estate. Visitors can see how rum is made, visit rum shops, and learn about the history of sugar and rum production, including the people who worked on the estates long ago.
