The reposado of rum.
A 100% additive-free Colombian rum built by two Columbus women — blending unaged pot still and 4-year aged column still rum into a clean, premium spirit that drinks like a reposado, at a fraction of the price.
NEW $150K of this raise is reserved for the Esther Women's Circle →
Female founders remain a small fraction of who gets funded, and women are significantly underrepresented as investors too, even in early-stage, private rounds like this one. This raise reflects that directly: $150,000 of it is set aside for women investors who want an early stake in a brand built by women.
of global venture capital goes to female-founded companies. (Crunchbase / PitchBook)
Revenue generated per $1 of funding — female-founded startups vs. male-founded startups. (Boston Consulting Group, 2018)
of VC partner or decision-making roles are held by women — and more than three-quarters of firms have no female partner at all. (Founders Forum Group, 2025)
“Margaret and Emunah identified a real and relatable gap in the market: there is no ‘cool’ rum brand that I could name! I didn't even think I liked rum. In fact, I am now a full-fledged rum drinker who actually enjoys sipping Esther straight or on the rocks. I am proud to be an investor in Esther Rum, a women-owned brand that I fully believe will evolve the rum category and make a lasting mark in the world of spirits.”
“I invested in Esther because it fills a clear gap in the market with an exceptional spirit, one that everyone who drinks it (not just rum drinkers) falls in love with. I've seen this firsthand! But even more so, Margaret and Emunah, the founders behind Esther, have a crystal clear vision for the brand and know how to execute in such a creative and differentiated way. This combination of top tier product and founding team is what I believe will make Esther a massive success.”
Rum is a massive $28.4 billion global category, but nobody walks into a bar and orders a rum brand by name. There's no call brand. No cultural icon. Esther is here to change that.
Esther is a premium, additive-free Colombian rum, referred to as "the Reposado of Rum" for its tequila-adjacent profile that's familiar and accessible to the tequila drinker market, and anyone "not yet" a rum drinker.
It's founded and owned by Margaret Kerr-Jarrett and Emunah Winer, who previously built Nihilo Design Agency and co-founded Casa Malka Tequila before launching Esther in February 2026. Esther is currently distributed throughout Columbus, Ohio, with statewide expansion underway ahead of a national rollout.
Queen Esther was a Persian queen who used courage and wit to save her people — ancient, culturally resonant, and claimed across faiths.
Fermentation-born esters that shape the spirit's flavor.
100% additive-free Colombian rum that drinks like a reposado.
“The goal is not to get people to fall in love with rum, but to fall in love with Esther — which happens to be rum.”
Nihilo Agency → Casa Malka Tequila → Esther.
Global rum category — but no call brand, no cultural moment. Except Esther.
YoY volume growth in super-premium rum in 2025 — one of the only alcohol categories actively growing. (DISCUS)
Esther's price point — riding the same premiumization wave that built Tequila, at a more competitive price than premium tequila.
Additive-free. Most rum on the market contains additives. Esther does not.
A signature blend of unaged pot still and 4-year aged column still rum, distilled in Cali, Colombia. The pot still brings complexity. The column still brings smoothness. The result is a clean rum that drinks like a premium reposado tequila and costs less than one.
Tasting notes: ripe stone fruit, grassy agricole, and toasted oak, with a smooth finish of caramel, anise, and vanilla.
Likes good drinks, experiments with at-home cocktails, is a tequila fan — but never thought to put a rum on their barcart.
In a sampling of Esther's target accounts, we consistently outsell both Bumbu and Diplomático Reserva — multinational rum brands with wide distribution and years of consumer presence — head to head, on the same shelf, just 5 months after launch.
Swipe to see all three brands →
| Retailer | Esther Rum | Bumbu Rum | Diplomático |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arena Wine and Spirits | 30 | 49 | 29 |
| Chateau Wine & Spirits – Dublin | 19 | 11 | 7 |
| Giant Eagle Market District | 19 | 8 | 5 |
| 1837 Wine and Spirits Emporium | 12 | 4 | 9 |
| Total | 80 | 72 | 50 |
Esther's top 4 accounts by volume, all three brands co-located. Columbus, OH, July 2026. OHLQ audited data.
Next: Cincinnati → Cleveland. Launching a premium rum in the 9th largest liquor market in the US is unexpected — that's the unfair advantage.
Gallo acquired Four Roses Distillery for $775M and Whiny Baby (a Gen Z wine brand). Tito's acquired LALO Tequila. Brands that build genuine consumer tribes in underdeveloped categories get acquired — that is the outcome Esther is building toward.
Use of funds: digital, OOH, tastings, events, field team, partnerships, retail assets, inventory (COGS), inbound freight, and compliance.
First Ohio, then the world.