A Salford-based distillery marked the 75th anniversary of the city’s Royal Naval Association with a limited-edition product launch.
The Salford Rum Company marked the landmark with the release of its 57.5% proof Salford Navy Edition Rum in the hope it will raise more than £3,000 for the charity.
Produced at its Dirty Old Town Distillery, just 1,700 bottles of the exclusive rum were put on sale and £2 from each bottle will go towards Salford RNA.
Salford Rum co-founder Tommy Gaughan said: “Our long-standing credentials in rum make a navy strength spirit a natural next step for us.
“But to launch for such a worthy cause and a community of people who share our deep love for Salford was an opportunity we could not turn down.
“The launch is a chance to support Salford Royal Naval Association while enjoying Salford Rum in a totally new way.”
The RNA has more than 250 branches across the UK and money raised from the bottles will contribute towards welfare assistance, social events and remembrance occasions for naval personnel both past and present.
Salford Ceremonial Mayor Tanya Burch named Salford RNA supports the charity and raised money for the cause through a sponsored skydive last summer.
She said: “The Royal Naval Association provides a life-long community to those with links to the navy, an ethos that I and Salford Rum share.
“It’s an incredibly worthwhile cause, and it’s great to see businesses in the city of Salford supporting it.”
Navy rum is characterised by a dark colour, full-bodied flavour and a higher than standard proof intended to ignite even when mixed with gunpowder.
Anything lower in proof would not ignite and was regarded watered-down, while overproof rum would typically go up with a big bang and pose a risk to safety onboard.
Salford Navy Edition Rum is 57.5% proof and is blended with aged rums from Guyana, Trinidad and Jamaica and has smoky flavours of tobacco, caramel and Caribbean fruit.
Salford Rum regarded a close connection to Salford’s history a significant selling point when Mancunian Matters sat down with them last month following its success in crowdfunding £250,000 of investment in just one hour.
Its navy rum features a navy-blue ceramic bottle with a gold print of Salford doodled by Manchester-based illustrator Dave Draws as well as Salford RNA’s logo.
Rum also has a long-standing affinity with the navy and from 1655 to 1970 British sailors were given a daily ration of the spirit.
Tommy said: “The launch is a chance to support Salford Royal Naval Association while enjoying Salford Rum in a totally new way.
“It’s been some time in the making at Dirty Old Town Distillery and we’ve landed at a place whereby we’re very proud of the rum.
“We can confidently say our loyalists and those new to the brand will enjoy it very much.”
The brand recommends the one-off rum neat or in any of it signature serves.
Feature image provided by The Salford Rum Company
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