Rum man gulps another victory

For an entrepreneur in the rum distilling business, acceptance from Publix liquor stores across Florida is a celebratory occasion — akin to an independent toy maker allowed to sell his wares in Wal-Mart.

That's where Troy Roberts now finds himself, at least when it comes to Publix. The founder of Sarasota-based Drum Circle Distilling, Roberts recently received news that Publix liquor stores will sell Siesta Key Rum, the distillery's flagship product. “Publix has a lot of stores around the state,” Roberts tells Coffee Talk. “We've wanted to be in there for a while, but it was shut out to us.”

Publix, says Roberts, is picky about what it sells, so it looks at all aspects of a product, from brand to taste to labeling. In addition to Publix, Roberts says ABC Fine Wine & Spirits intends to expand its supply of Siesta Key Rum across Florida. ABC will now sell the rum in all of its tier-one stores, which are larger outlets that offer food and alcohol tastings.