PLANS are afoot that could see NB Distilleries produce its own rum before the end of the year.

The award-winning NB Gin – previously named the world’s best London dry gin – and NB Vodka, launched last year, are the brainchild of husband-and-wife couple Steve and Viv Muir.

Now, the couple want to branch out further, with plans for NB Rum to be launched before the end of the year.

An official launch is expected in November, but Mrs Muir is hopeful the new spirit will continue the success of the brand, launched in 2013.

Mrs Muir outlined her plans at a meeting of East Lothian Council’s planning committee earlier this month, where they were granted permission to open a distillery at Halfland Barns, near North Berwick, which will be able to operate around the clock to meet international orders This week, she told the Courier: “We plan to launch two rums – a clear and a spiced rum.

“These products have been exceptionally difficult to develop and have taken months of perfecting so far.

“Our experimentation and refining of the recipes is nearing the end of the process and recent blind tasting committees are placing the products ahead already of other major brands.

“We anticipate rum in the future becoming more popular, particularly craft rum.

“It is likely the number of rum bars across the world will also increase.”

Mrs Muir also confirmed that a rum still would be a “major feature” in NB Distilleries’ new home, and hoped the rum would be launched by November this year. She was hoping to build on the success of the award-winning NB Gin and NB Vodka.

She added: “We have a number of global markets that we distribute gin and vodka to at present.

“Given the success and continued demand for our products worldwide, our partners are very excited that these new spirits will be added to the NB portfolio.”