Africa-Press – Eswatini. The Royal Eswatini Sugar Corporation (RES) has poured itself into new territory with the official launch of Spotted Horse Gold Rum, a premium brand unveiled at a glittering ceremony at Dwaleni Farm Lodge.
The launch, attended by captains of industry, alcohol retailers, influencers, and dignitaries, marked what insiders described as the corporation’s most daring stride yet, taking Eswatini’s name from cane fields to cocktail bars worldwide.
RES board member Mike Shongwe said the product was “a statement of export intent,” noting that it would showcase Eswatini’s ability to move beyond bulk commodities into high-value branded goods.
He added that the same industrial backbone that had powered RES’s successes in energy and fuels was now being leveraged to propel the company into the consumer space.
“We wish the company success in this new endeavor,” Shongwe said, stressing that partnerships between large corporates and small businesses could broaden economic activity through jobs and local procurement.
With its distillery producing about 32 million litres annually and an anhydrous ethanol unit capable of blending into fuel-grade petrol, RES Managing Director Nick Jackson said the corporation was more than ready for the challenge. He described Spotted Horse as the opening move of a bigger consumer strategy.
“This is the first launch of our new strategy,” Jackson said. “If we can move just 3% of our output into retail, we can double profitability. That’s huge for us. So we’re starting with Spotted Horse. Then we’re going to roll out vodka, gin, tequila… all of it. Rum is the new gin. This is it.”
Earlier, RES General Manager – Commercial, Muhawu Maziya, thanked partners and stakeholders for rallying behind the launch. He said the success of the brand would hinge on how consumers amplify its story through word-of-mouth and digital platforms.
“Products themselves act as ambassadors when they land on shelves far from home,” he said.
Zakhele Zulu, Head of Marketing and Logistics, described the debut as a “historic step” in RES’s transition into the consumer market. He announced that nationwide rollouts and promotional activations would begin this week.
From the podium to the palate, guests were treated to guided tastings and mixology, with Eswatini’s own Judah providing the soundtrack to the evening. The event was deliberately curated to show the rum’s versatility, equally at home in a signature cocktail or served neat.
For RES, the gallop has only just begun. With Spotted Horse on shelves, the company is betting that its blend of scale, heritage, and innovation will place Eswatini firmly on the global map.
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