Dr. Yesu Persaud, probably the most influential folks within the Caribbean rum business over the previous 60 years, has handed away at 93 years of age.
Dr. Persaud had an unlimited influence on each Guyana’s rum business and Caribbean rum as a complete. In 1975, he turned the chief chairman of Diamond Liquors Restricted. Over the subsequent 4 a long time, he led the Guyanese rum business by many twists and turns, together with:
- Combining Diamond Liquors and Guyana Distillers Restricted right into a single firm beneath state management – Demerara Distillers Ltd
- The following divestment of Demerara Distillers again to a publicly traded firm
- The closing of all working rum distilleries in Guyana, save one: Diamond Distillery
Because the chairman of Demerara Distillers, he oversaw its enlargement into vast worldwide distribution with its El Dorado rum model. The 1992 launch of El Dorado 15 is broadly seen as a pivotal second in rum’s transition to a premium spirit.
Dr. Persaud additionally served because the chairman of the West Indies Rum and Spirits Producers’ Affiliation (WIRSPA) from 1990-1992. Together with Jamaica’s Evon Brown and Patrick Mayers of Barbados, Dr. Persaud performed a pivotal position in acquiring funding for the Caribbean Rum Sector Programme. This program allowed many CARIFORUM rum producers to considerably improve their amenities and transition from low-margin bulk rum to high-value branded merchandise.
Velier’s Luca Gargano has spoken very fondly of Dr. Persaud many occasions. Velier’s unbiased bottlings of classic rums from Demerara Distillers resulted from a friendship and partnership with Dr. Persaud.
Though I used to be not lucky sufficient to fulfill Dr. Persaud in particular person, I had the respect of interviewing him as a part of WIRSPA’s 50th anniversary Icon Sequence.
