Buy American! Sounds good in Stockholm
This just in from the St. Thomas bureau:
The Customs rules for visitors returning from the US Virgin Islands (a American protectorate, mind you, so why Customs is involved is anyone’s guess) are infused with some misplaced patriotism. Each passenger can bring home 5 liters of alcohol–six if that haul includes one liter of booze from the Virgin Islands. That’s maybe good for some local jobs at the Cruzan rum distillery in St. Croix.
But ironically it’s not so good for patriotic profits: a couple of years ago, in March 2006, the brand and distillery were purchased by Vin & Spirits (V&S), the Swedish company behind Absolut vodka.
Jan
12
2007
On January 14th, 2007 at 6:35 pm ,Vin Cache wrote:
These days they’re making vodka nearly anything–potatoes to grapes.
On January 14th, 2007 at 6:57 pm ,Derek M. Hodge wrote:
The reason US Customs have a role in the USVI is because even though the islands are part of the US, we are outside the US customs zone. The purchase of Virgin Islands rum Industries, Ltd. (Cruzan Rum) by Absolut occurred in March, 2006, not two yearss ago. And finally, the Virgin Islands receive a rebate from the US Treasury of a substantial amount of the rum excise taxes collected in the US from rum produced in the VI which is exported to the US.
On January 14th, 2007 at 8:53 pm ,Dr. Vino wrote:
Derek,
Welcome!
Yeah the USVI is outside the US Customs zone–a territory but not a state. And if the Economist magazine had it’s way after calling the USVI “America’s [security] underbelly” last August, they would probably only tighten the controls!
You’re absolutely right about the acquisition date–may mistake. I had seen this press release from Sept 2005 but that was just when they acquired a controlling stake:
http://www.vsgroup.com/416_992.html
Here’s the one from the outright acquisition:
http://www.vsgroup.com/416_1843.html
That explains why one local told me that they doubled the price of a fifth of rum upon after the acquisition “a few months ago.”
Interesting about the rum rebate!
Best to you, where it is no doubt 82 degrees and sunny.
Tyler