How Ragus molasses helped Chew Valley distillery craft a signature mouthfeel in its rum 

Artisanal rum’s flavour, aroma and texture all start with its ingredients, molasses being one of the most important. But not all molasses is created equal, as the Ragus team learnt from award-winning Chew Valley Distillery’s co-founder and Master Distiller, Joe Kelly when we visited. Choosing the right cane molasses is what makes a truly distinctive superior sipping rum.  

When we visited Chew Valley Distillery in Bitton, Bristol, the air was filled with the warm, rich aroma of rum slowly maturing. Founded in 2020 by Joe and Amy Kelly, Chew Valley Distillery sets out to create a high-quality, small-batch rum that’s proudly local, from distillation to glass. But to achieve the depth of flavour and smooth mouthfeel Master Distiller Joe demands, the perfect molasses is essential. 

Joe explains: “Molasses defines the DNA of a rum. Its sugar concentration influences fermentation efficiency and alcohol yield, while its mineral content and flavour compounds shape the rum’s body, colour and aroma. Mouthfeel, that subtle but critical sense of viscosity and texture, is particularly sensitive to molasses quality. Too thin, and the rum lacks weight. Too thick or impure, and the spirit can taste cloying or unbalanced after distillation.” 

In rum production molasses doesn’t just provide fermentable sugars. It determines the complexity of congeners, the aromatic compounds that form during fermentation and distillation. A higher-grade molasses with balanced sugar, mineral and nitrogen content creates a clean, steady fermentation, leading to consistent alcohol yield and a fuller-bodied rum. 

“Mouthfeel is not just achieved in the cask or through blending; it starts with the chemistry of the molasses itself,” continues Joe. “As we refined our recipes, we saw that minor variations in molasses quality could completely change the rum’s sensory profile. 

“Every rum producer wants that silky, rounded mouthfeel and we learned early that it comes from using the right base ingredient, one that carries through every step of the process.” 

When Joe started experimenting and after researching premium suppliers online, he trialled molasses from different suppliers: “Our challenge was finding a molasses that offers the high sugar content needed for optimal fermentation, a consistent viscosity for small-batch distilling, and a nuanced flavour profile that would carry through the still. 

“As a distillery committed to sustainability and craftsmanship, we also wanted a supplier who understands the needs of a local producer, that offers transparency and traceability and long-term partnership as much as technical performance.” 

Chew Valley Distillery selected Ragus molasses for its high sugar content, complex flavour profile and, adds Joe, exceptional service: “The ordering process was seamless, and the technical support from Ragus’ Customer Service team helped them fine-tune our approach from day one.” 

Ragus’ expertise in pure sugar ingredients made it easy for Joe to identify the ideal molasses for the brand’s rum style, one that delivered clean fermentations and rich caramel notes without excessive bitterness or residue. 

“The team at Ragus takes an interest in how their customers operate and work out how they can support them,” says Joe. “That’s invaluable when you’re running small-batch production. Every variable matters.” 

Ragus molasses contains a high proportion of fermentable sugars, creating a balanced nutrient profile for yeast health and steady fermentation. This consistency results in predictable alcohol yields and a refined congener profile, the foundation for flavour and texture. 

During distillation, the Ragus molasses imparts a rounded sweetness that carries through Chew’s pot stills, giving Chew Valley Distillery’s rum its characteristic viscosity and smooth finish. The molasses’ natural richness developed into subtle notes of toffee, treacle and caramel, enhancing both aroma and depth. 

Behind this sensory experience lies Ragus’ century of sugar expertise. Each batch of molasses is precisely tested and standardised for sugar content, pH and density, ensuring consistency from one delivery to the next, something small-batch distillers depend on. 

This reliability meant Joe could focus on refining his craft rather than compensating for ingredient variability. With Ragus molasses, reproducible results were achieved across different rum batches, enabling production scale-up while maintaining artisanal quality. 

Small details also supported founder Joe Kelly’s ethos of sustainability and circular production. Waste molasses from the distilling process goes to a local farmer, who feeds it to his cows, a perfect example of local collaboration and zero-waste thinking. 

And as Joe proudly notes: “None of the rum or gin you drink in our bar has ever left the building, zero miles from still to glass.” 

The collaboration between Ragus and Chew Valley Distillery illustrates how ingredient quality directly shapes the sensory and technical success of craft spirits. From sourcing to fermentation to the final pour, the right molasses ensures balance, body and flavour integrity. 

For Ragus, working with independent producers like Chew Valley is about more than supplying ingredients; it’s about enabling creativity through science. By understanding each customer’s unique process, Ragus can tailor solutions that enhance performance and flavour outcomes. 

Chew Valley Distillery’s success shows how premium molasses can transform a passion and a dream into an exceptional product, a rum with authentic character, impeccable smoothness and a story rooted in Bristol. 

Joe concludes: “Working with Ragus gives us confidence that what goes into our still is the same every time. That consistency, back up by exceptional customer service, means everything to an artisanal small producer.” 

Ragus manufactures functional pure sugar ingredients for artisanal food and beverage brands, enhancing flavour, mouthfeel, texture and appearance. To learn more about our pure sugars, contact our Customer Services Team. For more sugar news and Ragus updates SUGARTALK and follow Ragus on LinkedIn.