Local female-owned spirit brand stirs up success and establishes seat at industry table
When it comes to starting your own small business, "the easy part" doesn't actually exist.
Throw in a worldwide pandemic and you can add heaven and earth to the list of mountains already in need of moving.
Bolingbrook resident Dee Tutt, however, is a woman of faith and perseverance.
An African-American woman in the spirits world, Tutt has faced numerous challenges when it comes to industry access and acceptance, but here she is, pushing her Tropical Rum Cocktail, Savîle, back to market, and expanding her team.
"There are very few African American women in this industry producing a spirit. More often than not, you are discouraged from even trying to break through," Tutt said. "I'm not a quitter and I don't want other women, in any industry, to feel they should buckle under the weight of underestimation. I could have folded years ago when we struggled to raise the funds to keep going, but I believe in this product and I have a passion for what I do. I will keep going."
In partnership with 88 Spirits Corporation in Ontario, CA, Tutt is bringing the best version of Savîle back to market in a 6.8oz can, 15% alcohol by volume. Originally Savîle Premium Rumtini, Tutt's latest rendition of her "taste of the islands" is all-natural, non-GMO, gluten-free and vegan-friendly, made with premium rum from some of the finest sugarcane, and a blend of island-inspired tropical fruits.
"Savîle wasn't born in a lab. It was born from people," Tutt said. "I started making this for parties and gatherings with my family and friends back in 1983, and it's been evolving ever since. Any changes I made to the recipe came from their feedback and the feedback of Savîle Premium Rumtini fans. I'm not here to cut corners on my ingredients or taste. I use the best ingredients to produce the best quality and taste because that's what I stand for and that's what consumers deserve."
Savîle Tropical Rum Cocktail is now available online for purchase at Savilecocktails.com.