Janet Silvera, Senior Gleaner Writer

Hugh Stockton (left), Adam Miller (centre) and Marika Kessler celebrate the launch of Blackwell Rum at Half Moon in Montego Bay on Wednesday night.

WESTERN BUREAU:

First it was reggae, now it's rum, Blackwell Fine Jamaican Rum, and the first time that Chris Blackwell has put anything in his own name.

Selecting the elegant lawns of the Pavilion at Half Moon in Montego Bay to launch what is sure to become his next gold mine, Blackwell and his blenders, Wray and Nephew, allowed an intimate group of people access to discovering the taste of Black Gold on Wednesday night.

"I chose Half Moon for this launch because I taught waterskiing here in my early days, and started Island Records here, which was very lucky for me," he said.

As for his relationship with rum giants Wray and Nephew, that began many years ago, when his family owned the company.

idea came 18 months ago

"I was supposed to be in the rum business," he declared to The Gleaner, just before explaining that the idea to make his own rum came about only 18 months ago. "A friend of mine, Richard Kirshenbaum, made the suggestion and I listened."

Both men are convinced that dark rums are going to be the next big thing.

Those who tasted the new product felt their taste buds were infused with a tropical fruit flavour, master blended creating one of the finest products Jamaica has to offer.

Former boxing champion Lennox Lewis and his wife, Violet, Kathy Snipper and Jenny Wood, Frank and Kathryn May, Joey and Asha Issa, Michael McMorris, Roy and Joyce Delisser, Patricia Dougall, Melissa Eldermire, Carole Beckford, Kevin Bourke, the organiser, Demott Connolly, Tammy and Blaise Hart, were among the guests in attendance.

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