Edinburgh deserves its very own specialist rum bar – and experienced operators Jamie Shields and Steven Aitken will be giving the city exactly that at the end of this month, when they open Ruma on Broughton St, in the New Town.
Named after the Scots Gaelic for rum, the brand-new independent bar will open on Friday 29th March with over 100 bottles of the spirit on offer, which Sheilds and Aitken reckon is the largest rum selection in Scotland.
Their plan is to entice rum enthusiasts with a high-quality range of signature cocktails including inventive twists on classic rum serves, hosted in a ‘laid-back, inviting spot where the rum does the talking’.
Ruma will of course be stocking rums from all over the world, sourced from far-flung locations like Barbados, Guyana and Fiji, but there will also be a wide range of Scottish rums from producers such as Ninefold Distillery, J. Gow, Islay Rum and Matugga Rum.
Co-owner Shields said: “Ruma was born, as many good ideas are, over a couple of drinks with a couple of pals. Edinburgh didn’t have a dedicated rum bar – why not? Rum has been growing in popularity every year, and with the growth of Scottish rum distilleries, it was time to remedy that.
“It’s taken a lot of research and planning but now is the perfect time to launch Edinburgh’s specialist rum bar with summer around the corner.”
Co-owner Aitken said: “From what began with a discussion in a bar between Jamie and I over some spectacular rum, we decided Edinburgh deserves its very own specialist rum bar. Edinburgh’s bar scene has grown from strength to strength over the last decade. Being home to Scotland’s largest collection of rum is something we’re really proud of.
“To see everything come together is incredible,” added Aitken. “Demonstrating to Edinburgh that rum is a beautiful and versatile spirit is something we are really looking forward to. There’s so many types and variations of this delicious spirit offering endless possibilities of what it can do in cocktails.”
Shields concurred: “There’s something so magical about the Edinburgh hospitality scene and customer’s thirst for knowledge. To have our very own specialist rum bar as a platform to serve and educate people is a dream come true. We can’t wait to open our doors, see familiar faces and make new friends.”
Ruma is moving into the space which formerly belonged to Treacle, one of the city’s most renowned bars. Now a thriving area for the capital’s drinks scene, the centrally-located Broughton Street is home to an array of innovative bars and restaurants.
