Crafting Authenticity: Inside the Renegade Distillery Revolution with Jane Nurse

📧 Join my ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Substack ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠newsletter

In this episode of The Global Glug, I interview Jane Renegade, a key figure in the Grenadian rum industry. We discuss the rich history of Grenada as the Spice Island, the evolution of its rum production, and the innovative approach taken by Renegade Rum to emphasize terroir. Jane shares her journey from environmental law to the rum industry, the challenges faced in reviving sugar cane farming, and the meticulous process of building a distillery from scratch. The conversation also highlights the unique varieties of rum produced by Renegade and their plans for the future. 

Topics:

-Grenada is known for its rich agricultural history, particularly in rum production.

-Renegade Rum focuses on terroir, emphasizing the unique characteristics of local sugar cane.

-Jane Renegade transitioned from environmental law to the rum industry, driven by a passion for her heritage.

-The rum industry in Grenada is evolving with innovative approaches to production.

-Reviving sugar cane farming in Grenada poses significant challenges, including labor intensity and land ownership issues.

-Renegade Rum employs a unique farming model to ensure quality and traceability of their sugar cane.

-The distillery was built from scratch, incorporating modern technology and traditional methods.

-Renegade Rum offers a variety of products, showcasing the diversity of flavours from different terroirs.

-The importance of local markets and pride in Grenadian products is emphasized in their business model.

-Terroir is a crucial aspect of rum production, similar to wine, and can be showcased through careful raw material handling.

Renegade Website

Renegade Instagram

Jane's Instagram

Grenada Tourism website

 

(00:00) Introduction to Grenada and Renegade Distilleries

(02:32) Jane Nurse's Journey to Grenada

(05:01) The Vision Behind Renegade Distilleries

(08:02) Understanding Terroir in Rum Production

(10:24) Challenges in Reviving Sugar Cane Farming

(16:18) Building a Distillery from Scratch

(27:51) Exploring Renegade's Rum Varieties and Future Plans