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In this episode, we went inside a brand new distillery in a rarely explored rum origin of the Caribbean — Dominica (not the Dominican Republic). Rosalie Bay Distilling is a unique operation that is producing rum from sugarcane juice supplied by 80+ local farmers, and contributing 100% of its profits toward conservation efforts that protect sea turtles, coral reef, whales, and more.
We got to sit down with Kernean George (head distiller), Marcella Harris (conservationist and board member of Dominica Sea Turtle Conservation Organization), and Brett Steigerwaldt (distillery advisor and head distiller at Lyon Rum) to learn about Rosalie Bay from a variety of angles, including:
How a chance encounter at a Maryland rum distillery sparked Rosalie Bay Distilling
A brief history of rum production in Dominica, and why it differs from neighboring islands Martinique and Guadeloupe
Kernean's journey from not drinking rum to becoming a head rum distiller
How Rosalie Bay developed its style of cane juice rum
What it's like to source cane from 80+ local farmers
The unique terroir of Dominica
The dangers to sea turtles, coral reef, and sperm whales — and how the distillery funds efforts to protect them
And much more!
Links to things mentioned during the episode:
You can order bottles of Rosalie Bay via Raising Glasses (it's also currently available in Massachusetts retail stores)
The Last Turtle documentary (available on YouTube)
National Geographic's Secrets of the Whales docuseries (episode 4 features Dominica's sperm whales)