JUST months after launching, Ludlow-based premium and purpose-driven rum brand Lost Years has scooped two coveted accolades in the Rum & Cachaca Masters 2021 competition.

Set up in 2008 by The Spirits Business magazine, this internationally-recognised competition rates and rewards excellence in spirit production.

Lost Years, the debut brand from independent rum house Cane & Able, is a range of marine conservation rums dedicated to saving endangered sea turtles. Sourced from leading distilleries in the Caribbean and Latin America, the brand was launched during lockdown, in November 2020.

Its Navy Strength unaged rum scooped one of the rum world’s highest honours – seeing off tough competition to be named the ‘Master’ in the white overproof category. Its Four Island aged rum, meanwhile, was awarded the silver medal in the hugely competitive super premium (£26-40) category.

As part of the judging process, points are awarded by a panel of leading spirit specialists based on blind tasting. Navy Strength was described as having an amazing and beautiful taste with the alcohol well integrated. Meanwhile, Four Island was noted for being a mellow rum, with an aroma of milk chocolate and being very easy to drink.

Ludlow-based Lost Years Founder Lee Smith, comments: “As a brand that was hatched less than four months ago in lockdown, we’re over the moon with this achievement. To say we’re award winning after such a short time is a real credit to the team and recognition of the hard work we have put in.

“Lost Years has been a real labour of love. We spent a year working with one of the oldest and most respected rum blending houses in the world and hand-picked distilleries in the Caribbean and Latin America to ensure the liquid in the bottle was world class, so it’s fantastic to be picking up coveted awards for the quality of our rum.”

For each bottle of Lost Years Rum sold, a donation goes to helping support sea turtle conservation programs at important nesting beaches across Latin America and the Caribbean. These funds will help keep local community members out patrolling.