End of year round-up from the team at Hattiers Rum
As another year draws to a close, we take this time to take a step back and reflect on what we have achieved this year and plan ahead for the next. From beginning to end, 2023 has been nothing short of a whirlwind here at Hattiers Rum and despite what has been another turbulent year for the industry and Britain as a whole, it has been an exciting time for the business as we head into a very busy 2024.
We would like to take this opportunity to thank each and every one of you for your custom and support this year and hope that you enjoy reading about some of our highlights from this year.
We started the year with great gusto and enthusiasm, ready to work hard on our plans for the year.
ITV's Love Your Weekend
In February we were thrilled to be featured on ITV's Love Your Weekend with Alan Titchmarsh, where drinks presenter, writer and bon vivant Tom Surgey presented a delicious ‘Casa Surgey Strength’ twist on a Champagne Mojito with Eminence Blended Aged White Rum to Alan Titchmarsh, Deborah Meaden and Megan Cusack.
IWSC Winners
The final good news of the month came from a trio of awards once again from the prestigious International Wine and Spirits Competition (IWSC), where Egremont won silver with 91 points and Eminence also won Bronze with 86 points.
The Sustainable Drinks Cabinet
During March each year, B Corp certified businesses across the globe celebrate B Corp Month and we were were proud to gather eight sustainable drinks brands as a collective to share stories, insights and learnings about how #WeGoBeyond as part of this year's campaign. It was a truly stand-out event for press, drinks writers, trade and guests at Good Company, a new tap café in Regent's Place by Toast Ale & Change Please, followed by an after-party at Lucky Saint’s newly opened pub The Lucky Saint in Marylebone.
From the UK’s furthest flung B Corp in the Hebridean Island of Islay, to newly certified B Corp brands changing the way we drink, it was inspiring to learn, connect and feel the buzz around the room. A HUGE thanks again to all the brands involved - Hattiers Rum, Toast Ale, Sipsmith, Lucky Saint, The Uncommon, Bruichladdich, Sapling Spirits, SXOLLIE and Lixir Drinks. Read the full story here and keep an eye out for news on what we have planned as a collective next year.
International Women's Day
We also celebrated some of the incredible women who make up the driving force of Hattiers for International Women's Day on 8th March.
Hattiers Ambassador Tom Surgey
In April we formally announced Tom Surgey as Hattiers ambassador after working together on various projects for some time.
“I am a genuine and authentic long-time fan of Hattiers. These are truly extraordinary rums. Philip and the team have created a highly-conscientious, modern brand that is leading today’s ‘rum revolution’ by every conceivable measure. It’s a total joy to be able to support as an ambassador – I look forward to raising a glass together soon!” Tom Surgey, Hattiers Ambassador. Read more here.
24 Months of Ecologi
May marked 24 months of our partnership with fellow B Corp organisation Ecologi who plant trees around the world for future carbon capture and fund quantifiable Gold Standard certified climate crisis solutions that provide immediate solutions, using a funding strategy guided by the Climate Committee following Project Drawdown framework.
Beyond our existing targets for carbon reduction we have offset 163.4 Tonnes of carbon and have planted over 3,089 trees. Take a look at the projects funded by Hattiers in more detail here.
Three Men in a Tub
Raising awareness for men's mental health in May, Philip Everett-Lyons, founder and CEO of Hattiers Rum, took on the Great Glen Way Canoe Trail with two of his closest friends, Martin Davidson and Rik Dyson. Having taken place ahead of Mental Health Awareness Week (Monday 15th May), the trio set out to raise vital funds from the challenge for mental health charity, Mind and were proud to raise a total of £1610.
Their journey started on Sunday 7th May and took five days to complete, covering 60 miles in their canoes. The Great Glen Way Canoe Trail is one of Scotland’s classic and most challenging canoe journeys. A geographical fault line forms the Great Glen Way splitting Scotland in two and is steeped in history and folklore tales. The canoe journey started in Fort William on the Caledonian Canal before entering the open water of three Scottish lochs; Lochy, Oich and Ness.
“The purpose of the trip was to highlight mental health challenges experienced by many men of our age and the pressures that we face, coupled with the fact that multi-generations have become used to suppressing their feelings and just 'getting on with it'”, explains Philip Everett-Lyons.
Philip continues; “Whilst the trip was an amazing adventure, at points it turned into a real challenge! We faced a strong headwind coming through Loch Ness and continuous downpours, which added to the physical challenge itself. The trip gave us the opportunity to come together and support each other at the end of each day. We opened up to one another, having much-needed meaningful conversations about our everyday struggles.
For years the phrase 'man up' has been used flippantly and often under the guise of 'banter' but this has been damaging and sometimes devastating for some men who have felt that they had nobody to talk to or share their worries with, apart from their spouse and often opting to soldier on alone until it's too late.”
ISPS Handa Celebrity Golf Classic
The charity support didn't end there, as Hattiers supported this year's ISPS Handa Celebrity Golf Classic on 12th May. Hosted by Mike and Zara Tindall much fun was had by over 100 VIP guests who sipped Hattiers cocktails whilst teeing off at hole one of the famous Brabazon course at The Belfry Hotel and Resort, followed by a dinner and charity auction that went late into the night.
The 10th Celebrity Golf Classic was a resounding success, with the event raising over £500,000 for two worthwhile causes, the Matt Hampson Foundation and Cure Parkinson’s,
Hattiers are proud to have been a key sponsor for the second year running and we are very much looking forward to participating again next year.
The Duke of Edinburgh Memorial Challenge
The final charity event of the month was held at the Sandringham Estate on 18th May. Hattiers proudly sponsored The Duke of Edinbrough Memorial Challenge, a prestigious event hosted by the Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust (GWCT) which honoured the extraordinary legacy of HRH The Late Duke of Edinburgh’s contribution to conservation and raised a record breaking £330,000 for the charity.
The day began with guests arriving by private air charter, followed by breakfast and travel by electric Range Rovers to five different stands to shoot from around the estate. Once guests returned to base, guests were greeted with a freshly shaken Hattiers Daiquiri cocktail beside our 100% electric Series IIA Land Rover by Electrogenic, before heading into the main marquee for a sumptuous four-course luncheon. To add to the excitement, Lord Dalmeny hosted a live auction and luxury raffle which included prizes from Hattiers and a truly inspirational speech was delivered by Lord Salisbury.
The Hattiers team are honoured to have supported such an incredible event alongside fellow sponsors including Holland & Holland, The House of Bruar, Dukes Hill, James Purdey & Sons and Air Charter Service, raising funds for a vital cause and look forward to working more closely with GWCT in the near future on further projects.
Watch the highlights here:
Video credit: Charles Sainsbury-Plaice
From Land to Sea...British Classic Week
In its 21st year, British Classic Week in July attracted over 40 classic sailing and motor yachts from the UK and across Europe for a week of sailing, cruising, and socialising in the Solent. Based at Cowes Yacht Haven, the UK's premier classic yacht regatta sees all yachts berthed in the same marina, creating a hub of activity and a gathering of friendly faces. The team in our third year supporting the regatta had a blast as always and it was brilliant to see both familiar faces and also those discovering Hattiers for the first time.
The Hattiers team happily donned their deck shoes for the pontoon party to celebrate and commiserate with crew members after a hard day's sailing, serving Egremont and Fiery Ginger Beer 'Devon Storm' cocktails aplenty until the sun went down.
Alongside the stunning classic and modern classic yachts competing in British Classic Week there was another yacht making waves on the Isle of Wight.
Innovative simulation-driven marine engineering consultancy, BAR Technologies, has secured the ‘Round the Island’ record in 1 hour 56 minutes with their fully-electric, ultra-efficient e-foiler SpiritBARTech35EF.
Credit: Alex Anderson / Maritime Filming
The yacht broke the record in style, outstripping the previous record-holder by 4 hours. Cheered off by the cannon fire of the Island's Royal Yacht Squadron, the elegant vessel, designed in keeping with the traditional luxury aesthetic of Spirit Yachts, started its journey at 10am and completed her challenge in 1hr 56mins.
Congratulations again to both our partner Spirit Yachts and BAR Technologies for their outstanding achievement, the new record set will be hard to break.
Protecting Wild Waters
At Hattiers we are extremely lucky to work, live and play just a stone's throw away from our stunning coastline on The Flete Estate in Mothecombe, Devon. We believe that Users of rivers and lakes deserve the same high standard of protection as those who surf, sail and swim at the coast and support The Flete Estate's call to #DemandDesignation.
Insider Media Awards
Insider Media hosted the tenth annual Made in the South West Awards this year. We were delighted to announce that Hattiers were shortlisted in the Food & Drink award category and were proud to have been placed alongside other shortlisted companies such as Rolls Royce Plc, Thatchers Cider, Burts Snacks and fellow B Corp certified Naturalmat.
Entrants spanned the length and breadth of the South West across the 11 award categories and were scruitinised, evaluated and assessed by a group of independent regional experts. The judges shortlisted companies that showcased incredible innovation and growth.
ITV's Love Your Weekend...Again!
On Sunday 5th November Hattiers was featured for the second time this year in the Best of British drinks segment on ITV's Love Your Weekend with Alan Titchmarsh.
Drinks expert, writer and keen advocate for women in whisky and spirits Becky Paskin served up some cracking Bonfire Night cocktails for guests Chris Tarrant, Anna Madeley and Rachel Shenton before moving on to some neat sippers, worthy of your hip flask, featuring Hattiers Resolute Navy Strength Rum.
Becky began the rum tasting with a little history lesson, telling the origin story of Navy Strength Rum and its links to gunpowder - perfect for Bonfire Night!
She described Resolute as having "rich tropical fruit notes, molasses and sticky toffee"... "It's a nice, big, unctuous rum. If you like to sip neat spirits then this one is for you".
"It's very rich - a real Bonfire Night tipple" Alan said, and when the picture was painted of a chilly night where a hip flask full of Resolute is passed around friends, he responded with "I'm there, but I'm not passing it around!"...we'll take that as a seal of approval!
What a year it has been! We would once again like to thank you all for your continued support this year, we couldn't have done any of this without you and we hope that you are as excited as we are for what we have up our sleeves for the upcoming year.
Cheers to 2023 and welcome 2024!
The Hattiers Team.
