XM

The history of XM rum is first and foremost that of the D'Aguiar family.
Originally from Portugal, they settled in Guyana 150 years ago, trading in rum, cocoa and chocolate.
In 1896, the four D'Aguiar brothers decided to join forces, founding the "D'Aguiar Bros" and acquiring the "Demerara Ice House" or "D.I.H.", which then consisted of a hotel, bars and a soft drinks factory.

In the early decades, however, the company failed to prosper, and by 1934 was on the verge of bankruptcy.
It was then that the youngest son of one of the four brothers, Peter Stanislaus D'Aguiar, took over the reins of the family business as Managing Director. At the age of 22, he already showed a remarkable aptitude for business.
He borrowed heavily to shore up the company's finances, expand soft-drink production (he was the first to secure the Pepsi Cola franchise in South America) and invest in rum from the Demerara region.

The XM (or "Extra Mature") has made a major contribution to the popularization of Demerara rum, which takes its name from the region of the same name, the main supplier of sugar and rum to colonial Britain.

In 1969, Aguiar Bros. (D.I.H.) merged with Banks Breweries to become Banks D.I.H.

Today, Banks D.I.H. is a thriving, multi-billion-dollar company whose main activities include the production and marketing of sodas, alcoholic beverages including XM rum, the operation of bars and restaurants, and - since 1998 - finance with Citizens Bank Inc., which it controls through a controlling interest.

Peter Stanislaus D'Aguiar died in London at the age of 76 in 1989. Read less