Renegade

Founded in 2020 on the island ofGLire more

Founded in 2020 on the island ofGrenada, the Renegade distillery is a model of ambition and modernity... Read more

Founded in 2020 on the island ofGrenada, the Renegade distillery is a model of ambition and modernity. It was born of Mark Reynier's dream of offering a rum with as much complexity and depth as a scotch whisky. This committed entrepreneur had a long career in wine. He then turned his attention to spirits. Initially an independent whisky bottler, he went on to create the Renegade brand, with selections of rums that he matured in wine casks.

He then renovated and relaunched the Bruichladdich distillery on Islay, before launching the major Waterford project in Ireland. With the creation of these two distilleries, he studied and focused his production on terroirs and micro-climates. Naturally, it was with the same ambition that he created Renegade. He began by setting up the CaneCo structure, tasked with redeveloping sugarcane cultivation in Grenada. This research led to the selection of 6 varieties of cane, spread over 10 different farms. 14 soil types were identified, on no less than 45 terroirs covering 230 hectares.

The Renegade distillery

Building this distillery from scratch allowed us to take into account an essential element of our time: environmental responsibility. Effluent management, for example, was the first step. Thanks to a phytosanitation system, wastewater and vinasse are filtered underground by organisms and plant roots in the mangrove, into which pure water is then discharged.

Energy was also a key consideration. The gas powering all the machines comes from a huge biomass boiler fuelled by bagasse.

Each variety of cane is grown, fermented, distilled and aged separately, field by field. This scientific method makes it possible to truly compare the effects of different varieties and, above all, terroirs.

Pure cane juice is fermented over a long period. Temperature-controlled vats ensure meticulous control. Distillation takes place in a typical Caribbean double-twisted pot-still, as well as in a Coffey-type double column, custom-built by the Scots at Forsyths. This column is highly versatile and modern. It gives the distiller even more control over the process than a pot-still.

Mark Reynier's winemaking past has left him with a love of fine barrels. He is convinced that major investments in this area will make all the difference. The Renegade cellars already boast French oak barrels from Château Haut Brion, Kentucky oak and even a variety of Andean oak.

Renegade rums

The first white rums to be released in 2021 are called "pre-casks". They already give an idea of the typicity of the different terroirs and distillation methods. For example, the two versions from Dunfermline Farm, pot still and column distilled, provide an interesting comparison. They are made from Lacalome Red cane, as is the rum from New Bacolet Farm. The Old Bacolet and Pearls farms grow Cain and Yellow Lady cane respectively. Read less

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