SANDALS Resorts International, operators of the largest chain of luxury all-inclusive hotels in the Caribbean, has signed a deal with Demerara Distillers Limited to supply El Dorado aged rums to all its hotels across the region.

This new agreement signals the end of an over twenty year supply agreement with J.Wray & Nephew, the producers of the world renown Appleton Rum.

Speaking to Caribbean Business Report from Kingston yesterday, the Chairman of Sandals Resorts International Gordon 'Butch'Stewart said: "We have had a phenomenal relationship with J. Wray & Nephew for over twenty years, and over that period we have seen both our brands grow and prosper. Anybody anywhere in the world can tell you that Appleton is one of the finest rums in the world and a credit to Jamaica. It is one of our finest exports, and over the years many companies have coveted it. It will continue to prosper and go on to greater things."

Demerara Distillers is one of the oldest rum producers in the world and has been in existence for over 300 years. Hailing from Guyana it has an extensive range of aged rums to fit all categories. The El Dorado brand with its flagship 15 year-old rum was launched in 1992. The El Dorado brand continues to win acclaim and is heralded as one of the finest rums in the world. All its rums are made at the Diamond Distillery using Guyana's famous Demerara sugar.

Demerara Distillers Vice-President for International Marketing, Komal Samaroo said: "Demerara Distillers Limited, takes special pleasure in this new relationship with Sandals. Our El Dorado range of aged Demerara rums has a history of delivering excellence and quality to the world for over three centuries. In more recent times, Sandals has similarly packaged the Caribbean experience and delivered it to a global market with equal excellence and quality. So here are two Caribbean companies geographically at the two ends of the region but sharing the same passion for delivering the best of the Caribbean to the world."

CEO of Sandals Resorts International, Adam Stewart, said that with over 900,000 visitors a year, Sandals will be able to expose El Dorado Rums to a wide international market, giving them a taste of the Caribbean. He went on to say that it was the coming together of two great Caribbean companies and that Sandals has always sought to extend a welcoming hand to other Caribbean businesses in the true spirit of CARICOM.

Speaking from the Jamaica Observer's Food Awards held at Devon House last night, Adam Stewart said: "This partnership with Sandals Resorts International and Demerara Distillers Limited is both timely and symbolic of the members of the Caribbean Community shaking hands as neighbours and pulling the region closer together. I am thrilled about the prospects for growing our brands and building on our own track records of taking quality Caribbean products to the world."