Winemakers / Ed Jackson & Olly Barkley
Ed Jackson & Olly Barkley
The story behind
The Spirit
Vapoura began with an extraordinary story of resilience, recovery and reinvention.
In 2017, former England rugby player Ed Jackson suffered a life-changing spinal injury that left him paralysed from the neck down. His remarkable recovery brought him together with former England rugby player Olly Barkley, and a friendship was formed through Ed's charity, Millimetres 2 Mountains, which Ed established in 2018.
Both had spent years at the highest levels of professional rugby, but their next chapter would take them somewhere entirely different. Sharing a love of rum — and a frustration that there was a gap between the world's celebrated spirits and what was being produced at home — Ed and Olly set out to create something of their own.
The result was Vapoura: a luxury English rum built from the ground up in England, with a philosophy centred on craftsmanship, provenance and doing things properly.
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Discover our
Sporting Connection
Ed Jackson and Olly Barkley bring two remarkable rugby careers to Vapoura.
Ed Jackson played professional rugby before his life changed dramatically following his spinal injury. His recovery has become a story of extraordinary determination, culminating in achievements that once seemed impossible — and his continuing work through Millimetres 2 Mountains.
Olly Barkley enjoyed a distinguished professional rugby career, representing England and the British & Irish Lions, before moving into business and entrepreneurship. Their shared sporting background is central to Vapoura, but so is what happened afterwards. Both founders understand what it means to start again, adapt and build something from scratch.
That philosophy is reflected in the Vapoura name itself. Named after a moth native to England and symbolising transformation, the brand represents a new chapter for its founders — and a contemporary English interpretation of one of the world's oldest spirits.
Exploring the
Distillery
Vapoura is 100% produced in England, with no imported rum, external blending or white labelling. Every stage — from fermentation and double distillation through to maturation, blending and bottling — is controlled by the team in England.
The rum is naturally fermented for five days using dual yeast strains before being double distilled in copper stills. Careful spirit cuts and small 50-litre casks allow the team to develop depth and character while maintaining close control over the final liquid.
Vapoura works with award-winning distiller John Hall, who leads the liquid production and works closely with Ed and Olly on each stage of the process.
The result is a distinctly English approach to rum — respecting the traditions of the category while deliberately creating something of its own.
Crafted in Chapters
Vapoura's collection is built around chapters rather than simply expressions, with each one offering a different character and drinking experience.
Chapter One — Spiced
An elegant, naturally spiced rum with blood orange, vanilla, cardamom, nutmeg, pink peppercorn and ginger. Distilled in small batches and finished in bourbon casks for added richness and depth.
Chapter Two — Gold
The richer and more contemplative expression, made with fine molasses and finished in Pedro Ximénez casks. Chocolate, caramel, raisins, tobacco and vanilla create a smooth, velvety rum designed for sipping and spirit-forward cocktails.
The Collection
Two chapters. One extraordinary story. A gift-ready collection bringing Chapter One and Chapter Two together
Vapoura is ultimately about more than rum.
It is about what happens when you refuse to let the first chapter define the rest of the story.
From Ed's extraordinary recovery to Olly's journey from international rugby to entrepreneurship, Vapoura is built around the same qualities that shaped both founders' lives: resilience, curiosity, ambition and the courage to start again.
Two former rugby players. One remarkable friendship. A new chapter in English rum.
Explore
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