Grand Cayman, B.W.I. - August 18, 2008 - Gemini Spirits & Wine, one of the fastest growing
developmental brand builders in the United States has become the exclusive importer for Tortuga
Rums of the Cayman Islands.
In 2006 Majestic Distilling in Lansdowne Maryland introduced Tortuga Gold Rum and Tortuga
Light Rum into the U.S.; and in August 2007 launched Tortuga flavored rums - Tortuga
Coconut, Tortuga Banana and Tortuga Spice. This new relationship with Gemini Spirits & Wine
will utilize Gemini's industry expertise and extensive sales network to expand the Tortuga
brand's early success in the U.S. market.
"We are extremely pleased to take on U.S.
distributorship of Tortuga Rums," said Ken
Kwarta, Vice President and 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
U.S. 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."
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 2 million case imported brand in the U.S. 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, it was the only U.S. 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. See
www.geminispiritswine.com.
"This new relationship is an excellent springboard for the Tortuga Rum brand," says 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."
In 1984, Hamaty and his wife Carlene, started the Tortuga Rum Company, introducing the
Cayman's first private label rums to appeal to the tiny islands' growing tourist market. Today the
company is the largest duty-free and retail liquor business in the Cayman Islands. Its premium
and flavored Tortuga Rums are specially developed, private blends of Jamaican and Barbados
rums and a favorite souvenir of the millions of cruise passengers and other visitors who come to
the Caymans each year.
Tortuga Rum Company, Ltd. is a family owned and operated business headquartered in Grand
Cayman, B.W.I. with franchise bakeries in Jamaica, Barbados and the Bahamas. In Grand
Cayman, Tortuga offers over a dozen premium and flavored rums and Tortuga rum liqueurs as
well as all major brand-name liquors. In addition to its award winning rums, the company is
known for its world famous Tortuga Caribbean Rum Cakes, the #1 export of the Cayman Islands
and named 2008 "Best Cruise Souvenir" by Porthole Cruise magazine for the fourth consecutive
year.
Tortuga Imports/Tortuga Rum Cake Company, named as one of the INC5000 fastest growing
private companies in America, handles worldwide distribution, food service, mail order and
online sales from Miami, Florida. See www.tortugarums.com .
Tortuga Rum Company, Ltd. is a family owned and operated business based in Grand Cayman, B.W.I. with 17 retail and duty free shops and three bakeries. Franchise bakeries are in Barbados (by Bakers Choice), Jamaica and the Bahamas. Tortuga Imports/Tortuga Rum Cake Company handles worldwide distribution, mail order, food service and online sales from Miami, Florida.
