Nepal’s favorite Khukri Rum brings an authentic taste for over six decades. It is one of the highest market shareholders in the country. Barely a few Nepali adults do not recognize this iconic rum.
Khukri Rum serves liquor lovers in three different varieties. It has also expanded the market in different countries, including Hong-Kong, the U.K., and Australia.
Recently, Khukri Rum has won a gold medal in the 2020 London Spirit Competition. After winning the prestigious award, it is now planning to extend the market in the land of opportunity — America.
History of Khukri Rum
Nepal Distilleries Private Limited launched Khukri Rum in 1959 in Kathmandu. At first, they are distilled through pot stills. The company used oak casks to ferment sugarcane caramels. After that, it used to process through pots.
Until 2003, Khukri Rum held 99 percent of the market share in Nepal. But after the entrance of foreign rums, slowly, Khukri Rum lost its value.
But after winning Silver Medal on 42nd World Selection of Spirits and Liqueurs (2004), Nepal Distilleries started marketing furiously.
After that, Khukri Rum launched the Coronation Line to commemorate the coronation of King Birendra. This propaganda hiked Nepal Distilleries’ market value again.
Since then, this rum is growing popular in different parts of the world. Nepal Distilleries is currently selling its product in 13 countries. It holds an 80 percent market share as per the 2020 data.
Processing Plants and Taste
Nepal Distilleries has a processing plant in Kathmandu. It uses modern technology to make authentic rum. The company has currently placed the still pots on display to remember the legacy.
Nowadays, it has three fractionating columns. These columns separate the mixture into different components and later distill the remaining pure form of rum.
Khukri Rum gets the taste from wooden oak barrels. The rum is placed for eight months inside the barrel for the aging process. Nepal Distilleries uses pure spring water from the Himalayas to make the rum.
Currently, the rum has three variants, Khukri XXX Rum, Coronation Khukri XXX Rum, and Khukri Spice Rum. Except for Khukri Spice Rum, other variants taste the same.
The coronation variant uses hand made Khukri shaped bottle. It has 375ml of rum inside the bottle. For Khukri Spice Rum, the company uses hand-picked Himalayan spices like cloves, cardamom, and cinnamon. These spices add a tart taste to rum.
Launch in America and Future Plans
According to the company’s general manager, Khukri Rum will be available in America after 1.5 months. He said, “We have sent containers through Ship, and it is en route.”
The company’s G.M. added, “It is a big opportunity for us during the pandemic. We are planning to sell our rum in different parts of the world.”
In the future, Nepal Distilleries is planning to expand its market in different European and African countries. It has also collaborated with international artists like Steve Aoki for the promotion.
In Nepal, there is a culture of drinking rum in winter. However, Khukri Rum is changing the culture by hosting different events in Kathmandu’s major restaurants, including Trisara, Tamarind, Booze Belly, Opium, and Mezze.
The company is proposing to establish plants outside Nepal – and has launched the “Garva Ka Saath” campaign. With the high hopes on, Nepal’s only premium rum will surely make Nepali brands proud in the upcoming days.
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