Special blend uncapped to raise funds for UG’s 60th anniversary

The University of Guyana Foundation (UGF) in observing its 60th anniversary, has partnered with Demerara Distillers Limited (DDL) to create a special 60th anniversary blend of alcohol that will be sold to raise funds for the foundation.
The first edition of the special blend was uncapped on Thursday evening at the Black Magenta, Camp Street Georgetown.
During the ceremony, Vice Chancellor of the University of Guyana (UG), Professor Paloma Mohamed explained that this special blend was launched in order to raise funds that will go to several initiatives.
“The Chancellor of the University, who is chair of the foundation, set a very ambitious target of US$60 million in 5 years starting this October when we go into our 60th year on October 3, 2022,” she explained.
“We have no sports facility at the University of Guyana… not even a proper field. This is a tragedy given how many sports people come out of this country. We have no auditorium that could house anything more than 700 people… there are several other small infrastructural projects, and the library, as you probably know, is the oldest heartbeat of the university, but it is really in need of rebuilding now,” the VC added.
Dr Mohamed further stated that “while the marketing on it says 60, you think it’s 60-year-old rum but it is not 60-year-old, it’s for our 60th anniversary, but it is a special blend that you will not get anywhere else.”
There are only 6000 bottles of this limited edition special blend that will be manufactured and sold at a cost of US$100 each. There will be other activities to commemorate the 60th anniversary.
Meanwhile, Master Distiller at DDL, Lenox Shaun Caleb stated that the blend was created from several other blends of rums that cannot be replicated.
“We selected three blends that inspired this blend that is in our overseas channels, that best toasted in our view the Demerara Founding and firm footing of the University of Guyana. The blend of course, though significantly contributed by the Demerara contribution would be incomplete without the influence and the charm of the ancient county, and the county of Berbice was represented through the distillate of our double wooden pot still…that is the oldest and the only one of its kind,” he said,
“We have chosen such distinct spirits that literally nobody else in the world can replicate them.”
As such, he stated that the buyers of the blend will truly have a one-of-a-kind experience.
Caleb further explained that the rum contains a wide variety and mixture of flavours that can be compared to no other.
The rum will be available at all DSL outlets, the Duty-Free Shop at MovieTowne Mall and soon at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, Timehri.