SPOTTED HORSE RUM OFFICIALLY LAUNCHED

RES Corporation unveils flagship product to champion Eswatini on the Global stage. 

RES ushered in a bold new chapter of innovation and brand elevation with the official launch of Spotted Horse Gold Rum, held at Dwaleni Farm Lodge. The milestone event brought together stakeholders, dignitaries, partners, and media to witness the unveiling of a premium spirit crafted in Eswatini - for the world.

“A statement of export intent”

RES board member Mike Shongwe positioned the launch as a milestone for local industry and a statement of export intent—arguing that a premium, branded beverage backed by serious production capability can help place Eswatini on global shelves.

He praised management’s push to build beyond bulk commodities, citing RES’s record in energy and fuels as the technical backbone behind the new consumer play. He referenced the company’s bagasse-based electricity generation and participation in an E10 (10% ethanol) petrol-blending pilot with government as examples of industrial know-how that “travels” well into new categories.

“We wish the company success in this new endeavor,” Shongwe said, adding that large corporates partnering with SMEs “can broaden economic activity through jobs and local procurement.”

Industrial muscle behind the label

The RES distillery produces about 32 million litres in a 36-week production period and includes an anhydrous (fuel-grade, 99.9%) unit capable of supplying ethanol suitable for blending with petrol—an industrial platform that translates into disciplined, scalable beverage production. The corporation also plays a leading role in Eswatini’s sugar and ethanol output, with modern digital agriculture and analytics increasingly embedded across operations.

“Rum is the new gin. This is it.”

Nick Jackson, Managing Director, described Spotted Horse as the opening move in RES’s next phase:

“This is the first launch of our new strategy… if we can move 3% of our output into retail, we can double profitability. So that’s huge for us. So we’re starting with Spotted Horse… Then we’re going to roll out the vodka, then gin, tequila, all those other things as well… But this is, this is the new gin. Rum is the new gin. This is it.

If you don’t drink, then you must start drinking, because this will change your world.”

Earlier, Muhawu Maziya, General Manager – Commercial, welcomed guests and underscored the role that partners, media, and consumers will play in amplifying the brand through word-of-mouth and social channels—a nod to the idea that products act as ambassadors when they show up on shelves far from home.

From podium to palate

The tasting experience featured guided mixology and cocktail service, headlined by Eswatini’s renowned soul artist Judah, showcasing the rum’s versatility for both signature cocktails and neat serves.

The event drew the alcohol retail sector, captains of industry, influencers, and media, signaling a strong market debut for a label designed to carry Eswatini’s story—and quality—far beyond its borders.