Babash puts a cork in traditional alcohol sales

The hefty fines for having the local alcoholic brew — known to everyone as babash — have not succeeded in putting a cork in sales, especially for this Christmas season.

There are few hangovers for those who concoct the brew as brewers in the “The Mang” in Moruga — said to be the home of the best babash in the country — could attest to.

Those in “The Mang” told Newsday that their increase in sales was as a direct result of inflation in TT. They said inflation sent the price of spirits on the market up and people were turning to the locally brewed “babash.”

This was evidenced by the scores of customers who kept coming by to purchase bottles during Newsday’s interview with brewers at “The Mang”

One brewer, who said he has been brewing the stuff for years, said babash sales over the last week were brisk.

Babash, or bush rum, is illegally brewed in secret locations, usually in heavy forested areas in Trinidad, and remains quite popular among rum drinkers, especially at Christmas time.

Compared to the price of the rum you can purchase off any supermarket shelf, the bootleg rum is much cheaper.

The brewer Newsday spoke to said bush rum “still holds the best price” as the cost of the commodity has remained steady over the years.

There are consequences if you are found brewing or even enjoying babash. If you are held by the police either brewing it or having it in your possession you will also be charged under the Spirit and Spirits Compound Act and be prepared to fork out fines of $400 to $5000.

But despite this, babash is selling.

A “Chubby” sized bottle, or Vagrant as it is called, goes for $5. A nip costs $10, a regular sized bottle fetches $25, while a half keg is sold for $300. A keg is $600.

The brewer at the “The Mang” said, “Babash is the only rum that remains at a price the poor man in the country can buy to celebrate... and we always have reason to celebrate.”

But keeping the prices so low is not always easy for brewers.

The price of molasses — the main staple in the brew — went up after the closure of Caroni (1975) Ltd and bush rum makers say they have to go to Brechin Castle, in Couva, to get the thick syrup.

“And still we have kept the prices affordable,” the brewer said.

Preparations for Christmas sales, at the Mang, began six months ago, since brewers said they “knew the demand for babash would increase.”

“There are some people who just prefer the taste of bush rum,” a brewer said.