1423 S.B.S, the passion of rum

27 August 2025 | Interviews & Meetings
1423 S.B.S, the passion of rum

Interview with Joshua Singh, co-founder of 1423 SBS Rums

Hello Joshua, and thank you for granting us this interview. To begin, could you explain the origin of the name 1423 Single Barrel Selection?

The name of our company, "1423", comes from our very first rum, the "1423 1st Edition". When we started in 2008, this same brand was followed by 14 different bottlings. We could have called ourselves many different things – by our names, our origins – but during a tasting, an administrator simply proposed what became the overwhelming favourite: 1423. As you can imagine, this series had carried 10 rums at 46.5%, we were far along in their production, and for some reason we decided to keep the name.

At what point and in what context was the brand born?

S.B.S. was created in 2018 and started with three very different batches, which you will find as single casks at 46.5% (70cl): Fiji and Philippines/Trinidad. You may notice that the name S.B.S. commercially began in 2008, with the creation of our company. Since then, we have been bottling single casks as part of our distributor activities. 

Thus, it is possible to find on the market editions such as "1423 1st Edition", "1423 2nd Edition" and "1423 3rd Edition". These terms gradually evolved to give birth to what you now know as S.B.S.

What motivated you to embark on this entrepreneurial adventure? What is the philosophy or vision that guides your bottlings?

Love and passion for rum and for the cultures and regions of origin. I have always been passionate about rum, just as many enthusiasts from your generation, and I enjoy sharing those rums that you may wish to discover. This is also the founding spirit of S.B.S. that has been guiding our bottlings since 2018.

How do you select your rums? Do you work directly with distilleries or go through other channels?

Wherever possible. We purchase casks/stocks, such as aged rums, directly from distilleries, and we also work with intermediaries who have contacts with distilleries or with companies such as Main Rum in Liverpool, which hold interesting stocks of aged rums.

What are the main steps of the rum selection and bottling process at SBS?

The selection for each bottling is done on demand. We generally start by asking our team and our clients what they find interesting for the coming season, then we source our stocks to find the corresponding product. The tasting panel meets for a tasting session in order to determine the fat, the "q" (quality), and the cask’s drinkability at its full strength or whether it would benefit from a dilution to achieve a lower alcohol level.

In your opinion, what are the main challenges that an independent bottler must face today in the rum market?

The high-end rum market and single cask editions truly exploded in 2022, at the end of the Covid pandemic. Since then, this type of rum has become more difficult. For a long time, the bottles were still available for those who were less concerned about the commercialisation of limited edition rums.

In recent years, we have seen brands becoming more accessible to consumers through multi-brand approaches, as well as negotiations and resourcefulness, which have led us to bottle more affordable rums as well as some of our more traditional editions, such as Crazy Korny editions, Fiji Barrels and some regions of Guyana.

For us, as an entrepreneurial company, this has made a difference, and we are seeing growing interest for SBS in most European markets. Fortunately, we are your single SBS Origin provider: the finest barrels, the best distilleries. Regardless of the market, our commitment is also about being an excellent tool to support the education of enthusiasts.

Could you introduce us to the different series that make up the SBS range and explain how they differ from one another?

In short, the main reason for S.B.S.’s existence is the single barrel selections. Since 2018, we have bottled more than 220 unique casks, each one different, with expressions that are progressively richer and more complex.

Besides this, a few years ago we created the SBS Origin series. Through this, we purchase and select rums from numerous distilleries around the world. A large part of what we have purchased and that you will see on the market is made within our own selection. Whether it is rum for you, or rum for everyone, whether the passion is about aspiring to something rather rare or extraordinary, our tastes are incredibly wide-ranging. We have also made contact to proactively select the rums that seem most promising and most appealing to us, in order to offer not only the best of S.B.S. but also to have the opportunity to discover a considerable number of exceptional cuvees that would never have been bottled or would have remained in their ageing warehouses.

Joshua Singh
Joshua Singh
Cellar of 1423 SBS
Cellar of 1423 SBS

If an enthusiast wishes to discover your world, which reference(s) would you recommend to start with?

I would start with the SBS Origin series and the Australian rum, which offers rich aromas of dried fruit and confectionery. Also, our SBS Origin Ecuador Matusalem rum, an Enrique Barquero from the Pure Origin Cask range, which we have only recently launched. Most people who have tried these bottles have been surprised. There is always something towards the sweetness to discover when it comes to good rum.

Can you give us a preview of projects or new releases you are preparing for the coming months?

In fact, I am currently working on several very exciting new releases planned for the end of the year, which will feature some really interesting and unusual distilleries. It will be a blend of very different styles, ranging from Venezuela to Reunion, passing through Guyana.

Finally, what is your vision for the future of the 1423 SBS brand and for the world of rum in general?

For several years now, we have had a kind of motto that says: "Rum for me, rum for you, rum for everyone." I believe this perfectly describes my vision.

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Interview conducted by

Matthieu Lange
Spirits Advisor