- Words Miriam Balanescu
Grime trailblazer Kano has teamed up with Duppy Share Caribbean Rums to concoct a new all-Jamaican white rum.
The rapper, songwriter, and actor Kano has formed an alliance with Duppy Share Rum to offer up a smooth new white rum, Duppy White. The drink will be the Notting Hill brand’s first 100% Jamaican Rum, distilling the flavours that the musician grew up with.
It’s a concoction that the pair have been dreaming up since 2016 when Duppy Share founder George Frost happened upon Kano on Instagram. As co-founder and creator of Duppy White, the Mercury Prize-shortlisted artist’s roots have seeped into every aspect of the process and the fruity final product celebrates the global influence of Jamaica.
The rum’s bottle design pays tribute to both sides of Kano’s heritage – Manor Road to Jamaica. The deep influence of the Windrush Generation is also visually paid homage to, with the Windrush Empire ship and a Kano lyric: “Every entrance to a door has a footprint left by the ones that came before. Let’s talk about the day the wind was rushed up on the shore.”
Kano has said of Duppy White: “For me, whatever I do has to be the real deal. This drink comes from me. This is my life, my family’s story inside this bottle, and wrapped around this bottle. This is something I believe in and genuinely love as a product. That was a major thing for me, creating something that I would like to buy myself, drink myself. I’ve been going out of my way to test it with family members and friends to see if they feel the same. People really, really enjoy it. Some people that don’t even drink rum, or it’s not their thing – they drink it and they’re a fan. It’s been a fun experience getting friends and family and peers to taste it. I can’t wait for the whole world to get their hands on it.”
Frost has added: “Working with Kano felt like a natural and authentic fit for The Duppy Share and his genuine enthusiasm for the brand made it really exciting to create something from scratch together, genuinely in partnership, unlike other collaborations out there. With his dedication, authenticity, talent, storytelling ability and respect for the Caribbean – if Duppy Share could be embodied by one person it would be him.”
Duppy White will be making an appearance at Naked City and City Splash festivals, as well as London’s Printworks.
