Bovey Wines, sole importers of Madeira by Pereira D’Oliveira to the UK, are pleased to announce that we are importing Rum and Vermouth from the Island of Madeira produced by the William Hinton Distillery. With over 30 years’ experience of importing fine Madeira wines, we are ideally placed to offer these premium quality products in the UK.
Rum has been produced on Madeira since the 15th Century when the island was the principal supplier of sugar to mainland Europe, and traditionally this was the spirit which was used to fortify Madeira wine. An Englishman, William Hinton, was the principal exporter of sugar, and in 1845 he established a distillery in Funchal. The distillery ceased production in 1986, following European legislation that prohibited the use of “Aguardente de Cana” – rum- in the fortification of the island’s wines.
A smaller distillery in Calheita has now been restored, re-launched production in 2006, and now their products are available in the UK. Bovey Wines are working closely with the William Hinton distillery, Engenho Novo da Madeira and Icon-Key, their representatives in mainland Portugal to bring their range to discerning wine shops and restaurants in the UK.
The Vermouth, MOOT, is a completely unique product, being made with a medium-sweet Madeira wine. At 14.5% abv, MOOT is a lighter offering than Madeira wine, which is typically 19 – 20%. The added botanicals give a delicious spiciness, reminiscent of Madeira wine but with an up to the minute 21st century twist. The product has also recently been awarded a silver medal at the Concours Mondial de Bruxelles.
Very particular rums whose genesis resulted from the selection of the best sugar cane that Madeira Island has to offer and its juice was subjected to a special process of prolonged fermentation.
After all the necessary characteristics were gathered, the cane juice was distilled and later aged in French oak barrels.
MOOT