Singaporean builds rum brand in Africa
Rohan Shah relocated to Rwanda to build a spirits brand that tells Africa’s stories and supports local farmers.
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Interview with Rohan Shan
FOUNDER, UMWERO TERROIR SPIRITS
Lives in: Kigali, Rwanda
Rohan Shah trained as a development economist at Harvard University, but his weekends were defined by a different pursuit: bartending. After obtaining his degree, he worked with small-scale farmers in Africa and India for a non-profit organisation. However, when Covid-19 struck, he was forced to move back to Singapore and operate remotely. This allowed him to moonlight at a local Singapore bar called Native, a venue that greatly inspired Shah with its focus on Southeast Asian spirits and ingredients.
This experience influenced Shah to combine his background in development with his passion for cocktails. He relocated to Rwanda to build a spirits brand that tells Africa’s stories and supports local farmers. In June 2022, he officially registered Umwero Terroir Spirits in the country.
Umwero’s flagship product, Imizi, is a craft rum infused with six African herbs and spices. This gives it an earthy, botanical profile distinct from the sugary sweetness often associated with Caribbean rums. It is branded as a ‘forest rum’, differentiating it from traditional rum marketing, which often emphasises island life.
