Suriname Alcoholic Beverages N.V. (SAB) was founded on November 17th, 1966 and initially starting with bottling and distribution of rum and sugar products from the sugar estate Mariënburg Estate.

SAB received its first international recognition for its exceptional rums by winning the prestigious “Monde Selection Médaille d’Or” in Luxembourg in 1977 with Black Cat Rum.Black Cat Rum was judged and evaluated on quality, presentation, taste and clarity. This achievement provided stong motivation for the young company. The year 1977 also marked the establishment of Black Cat Rum as the national pride of Suriname.

Angostura Ltd, (www.angostura.com) , an established international alcohol company based in Trinidad & Tobago, became shareholder of SAB in 1999 after the sugar estate Mariënburg Estate decided to trade their shares of SAB. This strengthened the international competitiveness of the company and guaranteed the continued supply of molasses for the production of alcohol and rum. In December 2003 Borgoe Extra, an aged dark rum, was honored with the ”Best Rum Award” during the “Toyota World Convention” in Tokyo, Japan. At this convention 140 countries competed with their respective rums and other alcoholic beverages. In June 2004 Borgoe Extra was also awarded with the “Monde Selection Médaille de Bronze” in Brussels, Belgium.

In September 2004, SAB and its subsidiary, SAB Distribution N.V, were certified according to the ISO 9001: 2000 international quality standard.

Nowadays, SAB is one of the leading industrial companies in Suriname. Combining efficiency with traditional craftsmanship, SAB is capable of producing high quality rums and other alcoholic beverages.

SAB products are available in bars, restaurants and supermarkets throughout Suriname. SAB is also expanding its exports to Europe, the Dutch Antilles, Aruba and North America.

Production Process

The alcohol production chain of SAB is a relentless process of adding value to the product in order to exceed even the highest customer expectations. To ensure continuous availability of high quality alcohol, our production facilities are equipped with various unites that handle a wide variety of feedstock.

Unique in the Caribbean rum manufacturing industry, is the availability of two distillation units at our premises. The first distillation unit is takes capable to carry the supply of fermented molasses or pre-distilled rum through a three columns in which the feedstock is distilled, purified and rectified. This young alcohol is subsequently stored in specially assigned handcrafted oaken wood barrels, assembled by our highly skilled coopers.

Under careful guardianship of our master blender, the rectified alcohol ages for many years in its oak monastery, until it reaches desired maturity. Based on highly refined rum recipes, well kept secret and only known to a selected handful of insiders, our delicious rums are finally given their breath of life.

The second distillation unit is capable to upgrade retified alcohol to the stringent quality specifications of neutral spirit and alcohol even appropriate for medical use which is purchased by all major Surinamese pharmacies, hospitals and other industries.

Authentic copper pot still

Yet a third alcohol production unit can be visited: a splendid handmade pot still unit, a sublime and very rare example of copper craftsmanship. This small-scale distillery is able to produce alcohol from any kind of feedstock containing sugar such as different tropical fruits.

Through these alcohol processing facilities SAB is capable to manufacture a wide variety of distilled spirits for both the domestic and international market.

From sugarcane molasses, we produce our delicious Borgoe and Black Cat Rum families, our powerful Mariënburg Rum and the tantalizing Hanappier brandy.

Mission  Statement

To produce and market branded spirits according to high international standards focusing on customer satisfaction and continuous profit growth.