South Asian Heritage month with State of Rum founder Jaspreet Ward

Written By Richard Thiardt

At Stir, we were proud to host the latest Captivate Conversations – a DEI-led discussion across the Captivate Group – as part of South Asian Heritage Month.

Our guest was Jaspreet Ward, founder of State of Rum and the first British South Asian woman to solely own an independent rum brand in the UK.

State of Rum is Jas’ love letter to grit, heritage and bold ideas, brought to life through an innovative line-up: Banana Cake, Chai and Salted Caramel Apple. Each bottle fuses cultural storytelling with boundary-pushing flavour development.

Over a glass of Banana Cake rum, we explored:
👅 The inspiration behind flavours that spark both nostalgia and curiosity
♀️ What it takes to navigate the drinks world as a female founder
💥 What’s next in a booming rum market (super-premium rum sales are set to grow 8% YOY in the UK between now and 2027)

A brilliant reminder that when culture meets craft, great drinks become great stories.

Richard Thiardt
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