Barbados -
The Real McCoy is proudly single sourced from Barbados’ 4th generation Foursquare Distillery, where we support ethical, sustainable practices in every aspect of production.
Restoration & Preservation
In 1996 when they needed to expand their rum operations, the Seale family restored the existing 1737 “Distill House” and Sugar Factory in St. Philip, Barbados rather than build new. Foursquare Distillery is now a designated national heritage site & folk museum, in addition to the working rum operation, with the welcoming sign “We are an environmentally friendly facility, and proud of it!”
Essential to island living
Thoughtful Production
At the outset of the process, the sugar cane is sustainably harvested. This protects working conditions, avoids waste, and, also importantly, avoids cane juice spoilage in the hot Caribbean sun.
In fermentation, molasses wine is created in a closed-top tank process. This allows for controlling flavor profile as well as capturing carbon dioxide (CO2) - the natural byproduct of the process. The CO2 is then re-used for carbonating soft drinks on the island, lessening greenhouse gas emissions and also reducing carbon footprint that would be created by shipping CO2 to Barbados.
Waste Management
Effluent is never pumped into the ocean where the acidity could damage reefs and the marine eco-system. Water pH is balanced for safe re-use. The waste water is separated, aerated (like a fish tank bubbler), and re-used for irrigation in the rotating crops of sugar cane and vegetables around the distillery. Spent solids from the fermentation mash are nutrient-rich and repurposed for fertilizer and animal feed.
Energy Conservation
100% solar energy production is possible at Foursquare from roofs-full of panels that came online in 2020, further reducing carbon footprint.
Heat is captured from water & steam in the distillation process and re-used to minimize energy consumption.
The barrels used for aging are most often “recycled” or second use like ex-bourbon, Madeira, Zinfandel, or Port casks instead of virgin wood. After making the long journey to Barbados, barrels stay on-island, forgoing any additional shipping to be used for as many more years as possible – imparting beautiful flavor. Once they are inert (“used up”) the barrels are chipped & re-used as fuel to re-char the inside of newly arrived barrels.
In the U.S. & beyond
Thoughtful Marketing
At The Real McCoy U.S. based operations, our goal is to “Consume Considerately” and share the message not only about responsible drinking, but consideration of our environment as a whole. So, we:
• Support eco-friendly & sustainable packaging practices, choosing producers local to the area of use, like producing labels on recycled paper with a talented local printer in Barbados, where ‘Real McCoy is bottled and labeled, rather than incur additional shipping carbon footprint.
• Practice conservation by producing limited physical marketing materials. Our visual promotional work is kept digital or printed on-demand on recycled and/or FSC certified paper. We create “small batch” runs of Point of Sale and merch items to meet specific demand, to avoid overproducing or creating waste with unwanted products
• Source recycled, FSC-certified, natural, biodegradable and non- petroleum based products whenever possible.
• Work with artisan makers & small businesses, including hand-screened bandanas in New York and woman-owned enterprises in Connecticut, Colorado and California.
• Are committed to transparency and education about rum & spirits as a whole. All expressions are verified vegan by Vegan.org independently tested at Brewing & Distilling Analytics in Lexington, KY for product consistency and confirmation of gluten-free status and serving fact info.
• We continue to build resources & share information about the category live & online in seminars, video & print.
• Contribute to the preservation of maritime history and ocean/water causes as well assupport food justice & hospitality programs and relief however we can. Please join us in supporting the Jacques Pepin Foundation, World Central Kitchen, Direct Relief, Mystic Seaport, Heal the Bay and your favorite local causes. #everylittlebithelps
