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Got Rum?
S E P T E M B E R 2015
TM
f r o m t h e g r a ss t o yo u r g l a ss!
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Got R um ? S e p temb e r 2 0 1 5 - 2
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,
PUERTO RICO’S EMBLEMATIC ULTRA
PREMIUM RUM IS SOON TO BE,
BACK ON THE STREET!
CHEERS!
Inspired in over 300 years of passion and history and more than a century (106 years)G
ofo
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t Ru m
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0 15excellence.
- 3
To be enjoyed with prudence and moderation. A unique and exclusive rum from Rones Superiores de Puerto Rico & Co., Inc., 40% alcohol per
volume, 80°proof. The return of this fine crafted ultra premium rum is not yet available for sale or distribution, but coming soon.
8
24
20
28
Got Rum
R um ? S e p temb e r 2 0 1 5 - 4
C o n te n ts
SEPTEMBER
2015
7 From The Editor
8-11 T h e A n g e l’ s S h a r e - R u m R e v i e w s
12-13 U P C OMING RUM UNIVERSI T Y 5- D AY C OURSE
14-19 T HE A L C HEM Y O F RUM
20-21 C OO K ING WI T H RUM
22-23 T HE RUM UNIVERSI T Y L A B OR AT OR Y
24-27 T h e RUM UNIVERSI T Y LI B R A R Y
28-29 T HE RUM HIS T ORI A N
32-33 RUM IN T HE NEWS
34-47 E x c l u s i v e I n t e r v i e w R o n s u p e r i o r d e p u e r t o r i c o
52-55 C IG A R a n d RUM PA IRING
52
34
G o t Ru m ? S e p t e mb e r 2 0 15 - 5
Got Rum?
TM
Printed in the U.S.A.
A publication of Rum Runner Press, Inc.
Round Rock, Texas 78664
Tel/Fax +1 (855) RUM-TIPS
© 2015 by Rum Runner Press, Inc.
All rights reserved.
September 2015
Edi tor and P ubl i sher:
l ui s@ gotrum.com
Executi ve Edi tor:
margaret@ gotrum. com
Tobacco and Rum:
phi l i p@ gotrum.co m
A ngel ’s Share:paul @ gotrum.com
Rum Hi stori an:
marco@ gotrum.c om
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mi ke@ gotrum.com
C ooki ng w i th Rum:
sue@ gotrum.com
A dverti si ng Servi ces:
dan@ gotrum.com
Webmaster:w eb@ gotrum.com
Di rector of P hotography:
art@ gotrum.com
I f y o u wo u ld lik e t o s u b mit n e ws o r p r e s s
re le a s e s , p le a s e f o rwa rd t h e m t o:
new s@ gotrum.com
Yo u c a n d o wn lo a d t h e f re e e le c t ro n ic v e r s i o n
o f t h is ma g a z in e , o r p u rc h a s e t h e p r i n t e d
v e rs io n a t :
WWW. GO T RU M. CO M
T h e p rin t e d v e rs io n o f “G o t R um ? ” i s
p ro d u c e d wit h F S C-c e rt if ie d p ap e r,
wh ic h me a n s it is f ro m re s p o n si b l y
ma n a g e d f o re s t s a n d v e rif ie d r e c y c l e d
s o u rc e s .
fa cebook.com/GotR u m
@ Got_R u m
O n t h e c o v e r : “El Jíbaro A mol ao” by Rocelit o.
P hotograph by Lui s Ayal a, from the ori gi nal at t he
Sti pes C ol l ecti on, P uerto Ri co
INSIDE C OVER: A vi ew of Mayagüez from Rincón,
P hotograph by Lui s Ayal a
fro m th e edito r
Innovation and Renovation
in the Rum Industry
O
ur rum consulting practice allows us
to meet extraordinary people, all of
whom share -of course- an interest
in rum. This interest is sometimes purely
monetary, embodied by those seeking the
cheapest rum so they can put it in a catchy
bottle a make a quick buck. Other times
the interest is primarily transformational,
even artistic, embodied by financiallysecure individuals attempting to produce a
rum, solely for the craft involved, even if
the business only manages to break even or
if it represents a slight loss. Occas ionally
the interest is innovative, meaning it
involves people attempting to introduce new
technologies or gadgets into the production
or marketing of the end product. Even less
frequently, w e run into someone whose
interest is primarily renovative, focused
exclusively on preserving historical methods,
products and traditions.
Rum is an evolving spirit and, in order to grow
and attract new consumers, it sometimes
needs to come across as contemporary and
chic. But rum is also the flagship beverage
of an era respected for its attention to detail
and its focus on opulent flavors and aromas.
Premiumization means different things to
different people, but one of the aspects I
tend to look for when trying to identify it, is
the return to classic, basic forms and styles
(aka “renovation”). This is why classic cars
will always make heads turn, even when
there are faster, more efficient or cheaper
alternatives around.
But renovation in our industry does not come
easy: one must first learn to identify and
appreciate everything that once went into the
making of a classic, iconic rum. This learning
process can be rewarding in itself but, for
those truly passionate about the craft, there
is nothing more satisfying than witnessing a
small piece of that excitement reflected on
other people as they are presented with the
fruit of our arduous labor.
But renovation and premiumization do not
start or end with the fermentation, distillation,
aging and bottling of a rum: they extend to
include the manner in which sales people,
distributors, retailers and mixologists respect
the rum.
If we take care of each link in this chain,
consumers will experience rum the way we
all want them to.
Cheers,
Luis Ayala, Editor and Publisher
http://www.linkedin.com/in/rumconsultant
Do you want to learn more about rum but don’t want
to wait until the next issue of “Got Rum?”? Then
join the “Rum Lovers Unite!” group on LinkedIn for
updates, previews, Q&A and exclusive material.
G o t Ru m ? S e p t e mb e r 2 0 15 - 7
T HE A NGEL’ S SH A RE
by Paul S e nf t
Kicking Mule
Handcraf ted Rum
K
ic k ing M ule Rum is p ro duc e d in
Paulina, Louisiana, at t he R iver
Road D ist iller y.
T hey c ur rent ly
have four ex p re s si o ns w it h a spic e d r um
p ending ap p roval. A ll of t heir r ums are
handc r af te d in small batc he s using l o c al
Louisiana sugarc ane m o las se s in t heir
small c usto m st ills. T heir silver p r o duc t
is blende d and b ot t le d at 8 0 p r o of.
T he b ot t le fo r t his rev i ew is f ro m batc h
numb er t wo.
A p p e a r a n c e / Pr e s e n t a t i o n
M y nam e i s Paul S e nf t - Rum Rev i ewe r, Tast in g
h o st , J u d g e an d Wr ite r. M y ex p l o r at i o n of Rum s
b e g an by l e ar nin g to c r af t T ik i c o c k t ai l s fo r
f r i e n ds. I qui c k ly l e ar n e d t h at n ot a ll r um s ar e
c r e ate d e qua lly an d t hat t h e uni qu e n e s s of t h e
sp i r it c an b e as va r i e d as t h e l o c al e s t h ey a r e
f r o m. T hi s insp i r e d m e to t r ave l w it h my w i fe
a r o un d t h e C a r ib b e an, C e nt r a l A m e r i c a, an d
U nite d S t ate s v i s it in g di st i ll e r i e s an d l e ar nin g
ab o ut h ow e ac h o n e c r e ate s t h e i r r um s. I have
al s o had t h e p l e asur e of l e a r nin g f r o m bar te n d e r s,
b r an d am bas s ad o r s, an d ot h e r e nt hus i ast s f r o m
ar o un d t h e wo r l d; e ac h o n e p r ov i din g t h e i r ow n
uni qu e p o int of v i ew, ad din g an ot h e r c h apte r to
t h e m o d e r n sto r y of r um.
T h e d e s i r e to sha r e t hi s info r m at i o n l e d m e to
c r e ate w w w. Ru m J o u r n ey.c o m w h e r e I sha r e
my ex p e r i e nc e s an d r ev i ew s in t h e h o p e s t hat I
wo ul d insp i r e ot h e r s in t h e i r ow n ex p l o r at i o ns.
I t i s my w i sh in t h e pag e s of “ G ot Rum? ” to b e
yo ur h o st an d p r ov i d e yo u w it h my im p r e s s i o ns of
r um s avai lab l e in t h e wo r l d m a r ket . H o p ef ully my
t ast in g n ote s w i ll insp i r e yo u to t r y t h e r um s an d
m ake yo ur ow n o p ini o ns. T h e wo r l d i s f ull of g o o d
r um s an d t h e j o ur n ey i s al ways b e st ex p e r i e nc e d
w it h ot h e r s. C h e e r s!
Got R um ? S e p temb e r 2 0 1 5 - 8
T he squat 75 0 ml b ot t le is seale d w it h
a blac k ne c k w r ap. I pulle d t he t ab and
disc overe d a p last ic c ap se c ur ing a c o r k
in t he b ot t le. T he w hite, b lue and b lac k
lab e ls p rov i de a few det ails ab out t he
spir it . T he li qui d is c lear in t he b ot t l e
and glas s. S w ir ling t he li qui d c reate s
a me dium size r ing t hat spins of f fast
m ov ing le gs.
Nose
W hen I p oure d t he r um a st ro ng note
of vanilla waf te d up f ro m t he glas s. I
let t he li qui d set t le and dete c te d h o ney,
alm o nds, w it h a sli ght hint of p epp er as
t he alc o h o l vap o r s rounde d it out .
Pa l a t e
T he f ir st sip of t he r um sur p r ise d m e w it h
it s we ll rounde d vanilla laden c r isp ne s s.
T here is a nic e bite of alc o h o l at it s c o re
w it h note s of h o ney and app le t ak ing t he
hi gh note s and t he alm o nd and p ep p er
note s p o pping and linger ing into t he
f inish.
Adding a lit t le bit of water o p ene d
t he r um up and int ro duc e d f l o r al and
c it r us note s to prof ile w hile me ll ow ing
t he p epp er note and inf using so me
bit ter ne s s in t he f inish.
Revi ew
Create d in small st ills, t his r um has
a l ot g oing o n and was a p leasure
to ex pl o re. T his has t he p otent ial to
b e a qualit y ingre di ent r um and t he
f lavo r pr of il e would f it we ll in c las sic
o l d wo r l d r um punc h re c ip e s and
p ro hibit i o n st y le c o c k t ails.
w w w.r iver roaddistiller y.c om
Louisiana is c ur rent ly h o me to at
l east four r um dist iller i e s, mak ing t he
st ate o ne of t he leader s in c r af t r um
dist iller i e s. K ic k ing M ule is c ur rent ly
available in Louisiana and you c an
f ind out m o re ab out t he c o mpany at
t heir website.
G o t Ru m ? S e p t e mb e r 2 0 15 - 9
T HE A NGEL’ S SH A RE
by Paul S e nf t
Papagayo Organic
Silver Rum
P
apagayo Organic Silver Rum is
made in the A r royo y Esteros
region of Paraguay about 6 0 miles
nor th of its c apital Asuncion. A ll three
of the c ompany ’s r ums are produc ed at
a c ooperatively- r un, Communit y owned
plantation that focuses on far ming in
sustainable, organic methods that has
led to their products rec eiving the USDA
Organic seal.
The c ooperative also str ives to promote
fair- labor practic es in their c ountr y with
over 8 0 0 families par ticipating in the
project. This has led to their r ums being
the only ones cur rently on the mar ket to
rec eive the Fair Trade Cer tif ic ation seal.
Produc ed from sugarc ane grown on the
plantation, they create the molasses used
to distill their r ums. Af ter distillation,
the r um is then transpor ted down r iver
via barge to Buenos A ires where it is
later bot tled at 8 0 proof by the A ltitude
Spir its c ompany using bot tles created
from 70% recycled glass.
App earance/Present at ion
The 750 ml cylinder bot tle stands a bit
high on the shelf secured with a metal
screw top. The r um is clear in the bot tle
and glass with no signs of distillate. The
label has a par rot directing the eye to
the Papagayo logo. The front label is
c overed with the r ight fully ear ned USDA
Got R um ? S e p temb e r 2 0 1 5 - 1 0
Organic and Fair Trader Cer tif ic ation
seals framed by the red organic seals
on the side.
Nose
Pour ing the r um unleashed a strong
aroma of alc ohol vapor. Af ter I let the
r um set tle a moment I disc overed sweet
vanilla, c ane, raisins and mango in the
aroma.
Palate
The alc ohol wraps the tongue with a nic e
light bur n as the swir l of f lavors r ush in.
Vanilla creates the baseline, with fr uit y
notes of raisins and mango taking the
top notes. At the f inish are subtle hints
of pineapple with a light grassy- c ane
f inish.
Review
I have to say I enjoyed the stor y behind
the r um and believe it is beyond the usual
mar keting we enc ounter in the spir its
industr y. I enjoyed the f lavor prof ile of
the product and c an see where it would
play well in any fr uit based c ock tail.
Would you like
to see your r um
reviewed here?
altitudespir its.c om /papagayo
We don’t charge
fees to review
r ums, you don’t
even have to
adver tise, so what
are you waiting
for ???
For more
infor mation, please
send an email to:
margaret@gotr um.c om
G o t Ru m ? S e p t e mb e r 2 0 1 5 - 11
™
Up c o ming 5 - Day Rum Cour se: O c t . 5 - 9 2015, Kent uc k y, USA
Arm Yourself with Rum Expertise
and Propel your Rums
to the Next Level!
Successful rum brands star t with the end in
m i n d. O u r c u r r i c u l u m i s d e s i g n e d t o t a ke yo u
“ f r o m t h e g r a s s t o t h e g l a s s! ”
D a y 1: T h e B u s i n e s s o f R u m . We w i l l g u i d e y o u
through the economic and political landscape of
t h e i n d u s t r y, s o y o u u n d e r s t a n d y o u r c o m p e t i t o r s’
a d va n t a g e s a n d d i s a d va n t a g e s .
D a y 2 : T h e C l a s s i f i c a t i o n s o f R u m . We a n a l y z e
c o m m e r c i a l l y ava i l a b l e r u m s t o i d e n t i f y t h e i r
organoleptical characteristics and associated
production costs.
D a y 3: T h e A r t o f R u m M a k i n g . Yo u w i l l s p e n d
a n e n t i r e d ay ex p l o r i n g t h e d i s t i l l a t i o n o f r u m ,
u n d e r s t a n d i n g c u t s a n d d e r i ve d s t y l e s , u s i n g
laborator y and production stills.
D a y 4: H i s t o r y a n d S c i e n c e o f t h e B a r r e l . Yo u w i l l
s p e n d a f u l l d ay ex p l o r i n g a n d u n d e r s t a n d i n g r u m’s
transformation inside the barrel.
D a y 5: E s s e n t i a l R u m L a b o r a t o r y a n d Te c h n i q u e s
& I n t r o d u c t i o n t o R u m B l e n d i n g . O n t h e l a s t d ay
o f t h e c o u r s e, y o u w i l l d evo t e t i m e t o u n d e r s t a n d i n g
and using laborator y techniques, culminating in your
blending of three dif ferent rums.
N o t e: T h i s 5 - D ay R u m C o u r s e f u l f i l l s a l l t h e
a c a d e m i c p r e - r e q u i s i t e s f o r o u r A d va n c e d R u m
D i s t i l l a t i o n a n d A d va n c e d R u m B l e n d i n g c o u r s e s .
R EG I S T R AT I ON
O n l i n e a t w w w. m o o n s h i n e u n i ve r s i t y.c o m
V i a Te l e p h o n e at +1 5 0 2- 3 01- 812 6
U S D $ 5 , 4 9 5 . I t i n c l u d e s:
•
•
•
•
A l l c l a s s r e l ate d m ate r i a l s
B r e a k f a s t , l u n c h a n d r ef r e s h m e nt s d a i l y
N et w o r k i n g D i n n e r/ Re c e pt i o n
Tr a n s p o r t at i o n b et we e n T h e B r o w n H ote l
a n d M o o n s h i n e U n i ve r s i t y
S p e c i a l: Re g i s te r b ef o r e S e pte m b e r 7t h a n d
r e c e i ve 4 n i g ht s f r e e at T h e B r o w n H ote l !
Got Rum ? S e p temb e r 2 0 1 5 - 1 2
™
The International Leaders in
Rum Training and Consulting
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w w w. RumUniver si t y.co m
ISTE
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F R E E!
HO T EL
A few comments from our
recent graduates:
“ C h a n g e d h o w I m ove f o r wa r d ,
i n a g r ea t way.”
( T. C h a s e, S o u t h C a r o l i n a)
“ E xc e l l e n t ! ”
( B . C a f f e r y, L o u i s i a n a)
“ E xc e l l e n t ex p e r i e n c e. Wo u l d l i ke t o
h ave t h i s t y p e o f t r a i n i n g
f o r my d i s t i l l e r y p e r s o n n e l .”
( L . C o r d e r o, P u e r t o R i c o)
“Ve r y g o o d .“
(C. B o g g e s s , I n d i a n a)
“ We l l wo r t h i t ! ”
( B . T i e r c e, Tex a s)
“ I t was exc e l l e n t . I c o m m e n d yo u r g r o u p
a n d tea m f o r t h i s f i n e c o u r s e.
I ’m h o n o r e d t o h ave b e e n h e r e.”
(F. S t i p e s , P u e r t o R i c o)
“ C o n g r a tu l a t i o ns ! Ke e p u p t h e g r ea t
wo r k . Tr e m e n d o us l e a r n i n g ex p e r i e n c e
(a n d hu m b l e). T h e c o u r s e b r o u g h t s o
m u c h c o n f i d e n c e a b o u t t h e t o p i c .”
(F. L a Fr a n c o n i, N eva d a)
“ Ve r y b e n e f i c i a l f o r m e.”
( D. B o u l l é, S eyc h e l l e s)
Learn more about The Rum
U n i ve r s i t y a t :
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+1 8 5 5 RUM -T I P S ex t . 3
(+1- 8 5 5 -78 6 - 8 47 7 )
T h e R u m U n i v e r s i t y i s a R e g i s t e r e d Tr a d e m a r k
o f R u m R u n n e r P r e s s I n c . i n b o t h t h e U. S . A .
and in the entire European Union. The use
of the “ Rum Universit y ” name without the
approval of the trademark holder will be legally
prosecuted.
Rum Universit y c ourses are available
in Spanish and in English, depending
on the of ficial language of the host
nation.
G o t Ru m ? S e p t e mb e r 2 0 1 5 - 1 3
The
A L CHEM Y
OF RUM
Got R um ? S e p temb e r 2 0 1 5 - 1 4
Got Rum ? S epte mber 2015 - 14
G o t Ru m ? S e p t e mb e r 2 0 1 5 - 1 5
G o t Ru m ? S e p t e mb e r 2 0 1 5 - 1 5
The Alchemy of Rum
Par t 1: Basic natural elements (water, ear th and sun) are absor bed by a
plant to produc e sugar (July 2015 issue).
Par t 2: The sugar is ex trac ted f rom the plant using mec hanic al devic es,
heat and water (August 2015 issue).
Par t 3: The c ollec ted sugar is allowed to be transfor med into alc ohol
through a proc ess invisible to the human eye (September 2015 issue).
Par t 4: The alc ohol is c onc entrated through the use of an alc hemist ’s
f ur nac e.
Par t 5: The c ollec ted alc ohol is allowed to oxidize, ac idif y and ester if y
inside the dar k c onf ines of a wooden c ask.
Par t 6: M onths or year s later, r um emerges with a c omplexit y and c harac ter
far super ior than the sum of the par ts employed in its c reation.
Few t hings sp eak of alc hemy as t he ab ove de sc r ipt i o n of r um’s j our ney f r o m t he
t all, t r o pic al gr as s to t he dr ink ing glas s.
J oin us as we ex p l o re t he sc i enc e and myst ic ism b ehind t he dist ille d p ro duc t we
c all r um.
Got Rum
R um ? S epte
e p temb
mber
e r 2015
2 0 1 5 - 16
16
Introduction to Alchemy and Aristotle’s Four Elements
Ac c o r ding to A r istot le, t he basis of t he
ent ire mater ial wo r ld was so met hing t hat
he c all e d pr i me o r f ir st mat ter. T his was
not , as it may sound, so me gr ay sludg e
f ro m w hic h t he wo r l d gr adually evo lve d.
In fac t , it was not a subst anc e o ne c oul d
see o r touc h.
It had no physic al ex istenc e o n it s
ow n ac c ount . H owever, it was t he o ne
unc hang eable realit y b ehind t he everc hanging mater ial wo r l d. To give t his
mat ter a physic al i dent it y and indiv i dual
c har ac ter ist ic s, var i ous st age s of fo r m
were ne e de d.
T he f ir st st age of fo r m, A r istot le b e li eve d,
was found in t he four e lement s of E ar t h,
A ir, Fire, and Water. T he element s,
w hile dist inguishe d f ro m eac h ot her, are
also relate d by four qualit i e s.
T he se
qualit i e s are dr y, m oist , hot , and c o l d.
Eac h el em ent p o s se s se s t wo qualit i e s,
of w hi c h o ne p re do minate s, and eac h
e lem ent is linke d to t wo ot her e lement s
by t he qualit y t hey p o s se s s in c o mm o n.
H ere is how t his system app li e s:
•
Fire is hot and dr y w it h heat
pre do minat ing.
•
A ir is hot and m oist w it h m o ist ne s s
pre do minat ing.
•
Water is m oist and c o l d w it h c o l d
pre do minat ing.
•
Ear t h is c o ld and dr y w it h dr y ne s s
pre do minat ing.
T he main intere st of A r istot le’s t he o r y of
t he el em ent s f ro m t he p oint of vi ew of
alc hemy is t he i dea of c hange. Ac c o rding
to his t he o r y, eac h e lement c an b e
t r ansfo r m e d into anot her element t hrough
t he qualit y t hey p o s se s s in c o mm o n.
W it h t his k now le dge at hand, we set out to ex p l o re h ow t he se four e lement s
he lp w it h t he p ro duc t i o n and t r ansfo r mat i o n of sugarc ane into r um.
G o t Ru m ? S e p t e mb e r 2 0 1 5 - 1 7
D ur ing fer ment at i o n, yeast c e lls t ake
in simp le sugar s and met ab o lize t hem
into alc o ho l.
T his t r ansfo r mat i o n
invo lve s t he re lease of Car b o n D i ox i de
(CO2), w hic h r ise s to t he sur fac e
of t he fer ment ing wash, fo r ming
bubble s, giving t he app ear anc e of
b o iling.
W hen t he yeast c ells have
enough C O2 adhere d to t hem,
t hey r ise to t he sur fac e of t he
wash. A s so o n as t he CO2 is
release d, t hey fall again to t he
b ot to m of t he t ank, rep eat ing
t he pro c e s s unt il all t he sugar
has b e en c o nsume d o r t he
c o ndit i o ns t hat supp o r t a healt hy
fer m ent at i o n have c hang e d.
Got Rum
R um ?
? S
S epte
e p temb
e r 2015
2 0 1 5 -- 18
18
Got
mber
In addit i o n to p ro duc ing alc o h o l
and re leasing CO2, fer ment at i o n
als o p ro duc e s heat (A r istot l e’s
“ Fire”), w hic h re sult s in an
inc rease in t he temp er ature of
t he fer ment ing wash.
L ast m o nt h we ex p l o r e d h ow f i r e a n d wate r a r e c o m b i n e d to dr i ve t h e m ac hi n e r y n e e d e d
to ex t r ac t t h e j ui c e f r o m t h e su g a r c a n e a n d to p r o c e s s t h e ex t r ac te d j ui c e i nto su g a r, c a n e
sy r up a n d m o l as s e s.
T h e p r o c e s s of ex t r ac t i n g t h e j ui c e ex p o s e s t h e su g a r s to n at ur a lly - o c c ur r i n g e nz y m e s
a n d bac te r i a t h at a r e p r e s e nt o n t h e sur f ac e of t h e c a n e st a lks, o n t h e l e ave s a n d o n
t h e sur r o un di n g di r t . W h e n h e at i n g up t h e j ui c e to c r yst a lize t h e su g a r, h oweve r, t h e s e
o r g a ni s m s a r e k i ll e d, a ll ow i n g f o r t h e m aste r di st i ll e r to i nt r o du c e hi s / h e r ow n s e l e c t i o n of
ye ast st r ai n, bas e d o n t h e d e s i r e d r e sult .
Pr i o r to i nr o du c i n g t h e ye ast , h oweve r, t h e p H a n d t h e nut r i e nt s m ay n e e d to b e adj uste d,
to p r ov i d e f o r t h e i d e a l c o n di t i o ns f o r t h e ye ast to t h r i ve. T h e adj ust m e nt i s ac hi eve d by
r e ly i n g o n m i n e r a l s (A r i stot l e’s “ E a r t h El e m e nt ” ) a n d ot h e r ad di t i ve s.
I f us i n g m o l as s e s, wate r i s a l s o i nt r o du c e d i n o r d e r to r e du c e t h e c o n c e nt r at i o n of su g a r s,
d ow n to a l eve l w h e r e t h e ye ast w i ll b e a b l e to p e r f o r m i t s m et a b o li c f un c t i o ns. I r o ni c a lly,
to o mu c h su g a r i n t h e m e di um m ay ke e p ye ast f r o m fe r m e nt i n g i t !
O n c e t h e ye ast i s i nt r o du c e d i nto t h e “ was h” (t h e li qui d we a r e a b o ut to fe r m e nt), t h e ye ast
us e s avai l a b l e ox yg e n (A i r El e m e nt) to r e p r o du c e ae r o b i c a lly, t h e n st a r t s fe r m e nt i n g su g a r s
i nto a l c o h o l, r e l e as i n g C O2 a n d p r o du c i n g h e at (Fi r e El e m e nt). M aste r di st i ll e r s of te n h ave
to e m p l oy wate r c o i l s o r bat hs to c o o l d ow n t h e was h, i n o r d e r to ke e p t h e te m p e r at ur e
w i t hi n t h e d e s i r e d r a n g e f o r o pt i m a l a l c o h o l p r o du c t i o n.
N ex t m o nt h, Par t 4: D ist illat i o n
Go
o tt Ru
Ru m
m?
? S
S ee pp tt ee mb
mb ee rr 22 00 11 55 -- 11 99
G
C OO K I NG W I T H R U M
by C h ef S us a n W hi t l ey
H e ll o, my name is Sus an
W hit ley, I am pas si o nate
ab out great fo o ds and
b ever ag e s. I l ove f inding
re c ip e s t hat inc o r p o r ate
my favo r ite ingre di ent s
and shar ing t he re sult s
w it h my f r i ends and family.
THE
Rum
TM
UNIVERSITY
G o t Ru m ?
TM
T hrough t his m o nt hly
c o lumn I w ill do my b e st to
inspire you to inc o r p o r ate
t he s p i r it o f t he t r o p ic s
into your ever yday
c o o k ing.
Sue @g ot r um.c o m
H ere are so me quic k and easy re c ip e s fo r you to enj oy w it h your f r i ends
o r family. B o n A p p etít!
Sirloin and Rum Meatballs
Ingre di ent s:
•
•
•
•
•
•
1 lb. G round S ir l oin
¾ C. W hite O ni o n, f ine ly c h o pp e d
1 Lrg. G ar lic Cl ove, dic e d
1 Eg g
1 ½ T bsp. Dar k Rum
Salt & Pepp er to t aste
“ Fo o d i s a ll t h o s e sub st a n c e s w hi c h,
sub m i t te d to t h e ac t i o n of t h e sto m ac h,
c a n b e as s i m i l ate d o r c h a n g e d i nto li fe
by di g e st i o n, a n d c a n t hus r e p ai r t h e
l o s s e s w hi c h t h e hum a n b o dy su f fe r s
t h r o u g h t h e ac t of li v i n g.”
― J e a n A nt h e lm e B r i ll at- S ava r i n
Got R um ? S e p temb e r 2 0 1 5 - 2 0
Got R um ? S epte mber 2015 - 20
D ire c t i o ns:
M i x all ingre di ent s to get her
(easi e st m et ho d is to use your
hands). Fo r m mi x ture into ½
inc h in diameter indiv i dual
m eat balls. Bake in oven at
3 5 0 ⁰ F fo r 20 -25 minute s o r
unt il brow n.
S er ve o n a p lat ter
to ot hpic ks. Ser ve s 10.
w it h
Peaches a la Rum
Ingre di ent s:
•
•
•
•
2 ½ c an of Peac he s
3 T bsp. Salte d But ter
1 t sp. B r ow n Sugar
½ C. Spic e d Rum
D ire c t i o ns:
Put t he but ter, sugar and half
of t he juic e f ro m t he c anne d
p eac he s into a s auc e pan.
H eat unt il mi x ture be c o me s a
s auc e. Add t he p eac he s and
st ir g ent ly unt il p eac he s are
c oate d w it h t he s auc e. War m
t he r um and p our over t he
p eac he s.
S er ve s 4.
G o t Ru m ? S e p t e mb e r 2 0 1 5 - 2 1
G o t Ru m ? S e p t e mb e r 2 0 1 5 - 2 1
T H E R U M UN I V E R S I T Y l A B O R AT O RY
w w w. Rum U ni ve r s i t y.c o m
making your own
Ginger
Rum Liqueur
I n ad di t i o n to b e i n g a n exc e ll e nt ad di t i o n
to t h e ba r, t hi s li qu e ur c a n a l s o b e us e d
i n t h e k i tc h e n, as a n ai d e i n m a r i n ad e s
o r as a s e c r et i n g r e di e nt i n d e s s e r t s
(h ow a b o ut a g i n g e r- i nf us e d m e r e n g e
to p p i n g f o r yo ur p um p k i n p i e?)
Ingredients
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
1 Cup W hi te S u g a r
1/ 2 Cup B r ow n S u g a r (p ac ke d
f i r m ly)
1 1/4 Cup s Wate r
3 T b s p c h o p p e d G i n g e r Ro ot (us e a
f r e s h, h e av y p i e c e)
3 W h o l e C l ove s
1 t s p B l ac k C a r da m o m S e e ds
1 t s p O r a n g e Z e st
1 Cup of Li g ht W hi te Rum (l ow
c o n g e n e r l eve l) at 5 0% A BV
1/ 2 Cup of Ag e d Rum (m e di um to
hi g h c o n g e n e r l eve l)
Procedure
M ake a s i m p l e sy r up by c o m b i ni n g
wate r, w hi te a n d b r ow n su g a r, c o nst a nt ly
st i r r i n g ove r m e di um to hi g h h e at unt i l
i t r e ac h e s t h e b o i li n g p o i nt . Ad d t h e
g i n g e r, c l ove s a n d c a r da m o m a n d b o i l
f o r 5 m i nute s.
Got R um ? S e p temb e r 2 0 1 5 - 2 2
Re m ove f r o m h e at l et st a n d unt i l i t r e ac h e s
r o o m te m p e r at ur e. S t r ai n t h e sy r up t h r o u g h a
f i n e m e s h st r ai n e r to r e m ove a ll t h e s o li ds.
Pl ac e t h e li qui d i n a c l e a n, 1- qu a r t c o nt ai n e r,
ad d t h e o r a n g e ze st a n d b ot h r um s. S e a l t h e
c o nt ai n e r, c ove r i t a n d l et i t st a n d i n a c o o l,
da r k p l ac e f o r 1 m o nt h.
S t r ai n t h e o r a n g e ze st a n d a ll ow t h e li qu e ur to
r e st f o r o n e m o r e m o nt h (yo u c a n us e t h e ze st
as d e c o r at i o n i n c o c k t ai l s!).
Fi lte r o r r ac k t h e li qu e ur i nto i t s s e r v i n g
d e c a nte r a n d e nj oy !
G o t Ru m ? S e p t e mb e r 2 0 1 5 - 2 3
T H E R U M UN I V E R S I T Y l ibr a ry
w w w. Rum U ni ve r s i t y.c o m
Th e Ru m Un ive rs ity
THE
®
Rum
UNIVERSITY
We l c o m e t o T h e Ru m U n i ve r s i t y L i b r a r y. I n
a d d i t i o n t o t h e m a te r i a l f o u n d o n o u r o f f i c i a l
we b s i te, we a l s o p e r i o d i c a l l y p u b l i s h o n “ G ot
Ru m? ” r ev i ew s o f b o o ks o n t o p i c s i n c l u d i n g
f e r m e nt a t i o n, d i s t i l l a t i o n, a g i n g , m i xo l o g y
a n d m a ny m o r e. Yo u c a n a l s o f i n d a d d i t i o n a l
va l u a b l e m a te r i a l a t
w w w. R u m B o o k . c o m
Got
Got R
Rum
um?? S
Seepptemb
tembeerr 22001155 -- 2244
T
here are many r um b o oks out in t he
mar ket and in pr ivate c o lle c t i o ns.
S o m e are w r it ten by j our nalist s,
ot her s by mi xo l o gist s, ot her s by bl o g g er s.
In m o st c ase s, t he aut ho r s re ly o n se c o nd
o r t hir d - hand k now le dg e, r are ly t ak ing
t he t im e to re searc h t he sourc e s and to
inter nalize and dis se c t t he info r mat i o n.
O n a re c ent t r ip to M ayagüez, Puer to
R ic o, we had t he h o no r to meet w it h
M r. Fe der ic o C e dó A lz am o r a, aut h o r of
L a I n d u s t r i a Li c o r e r a e n M aya g ü e z ,
A n t i g u a Ca p i t a l M un d i a l d e l Ro n ( “T he
L iquo r I ndus tr y i n M ayagüez, O ld Ru m
C api tal of the Wo r ld ”), a b o ok publishe d
in 2013.
W hat set s M r. C e dó apar t
f ro m ot her aut ho r s is his c re dent ials: in
addit i o n to being a w r iter, a p o et and a
p rofe s so r, he is also t he of f ic ial histo r ian
of t he c it y of M ayagüez.
A s histo r ian, he is c har g e d w it h r i g o rously
re searc hing and do c ument ing mater ial,
p r i o r to it s ap p roval fo r pub lic at i o n.
T herefo re, t he b o ok is not o nly f ille d w it h bit s of histo r y, l o re and imag er y, but
t he se e l em ent s are ac c o mpani e d by c o pi ous bibli o gr aphic al and ot her referenc e s.
T he b o ok gui de s t he reader t hrough a b r i ef int ro duc t i o n to t he o r i gins of t he nam e
“ r um”. It t hen enter s into t he realm of sugarc ane c ult ivat i o n, de sc r ibing t he ar r ival
of t he sweet gr as s and w ho and h ow deve l o p e d it as a p rof it able agr ic ultur al
enter pr ise.
T here is a nic e c o lle c t i o n of o l d photo gr aphs and ac c ount s of o l d sugar mills and
t he famili e s w ho ow ne d and o p er ate d t hem.
T he fo ll ow ing se c t i o n is t he bi g ge st and p er haps t he m o st intere st ing fo r r um
af ic i o nado s, as it de sc r ib e s in great det ail t he r um p ro duc er s and b r ands t hat o nc e
c alle d M ayagüez t heir ho me.
M r. C e dó’s c laim t hat M ayagüez was o nc e t he “ Rum Capit al of t he Wo r ld ” is
subst ant iate d as o ne is made aware of at least 3 3 di f ferent br ands t hat were
p ro duc e d in t he c it y at o ne p oint! Clear ly a re sult of t he e c o no mic and p o lit ic al
c o ndit i o ns of a di f ferent er a.
T he b o ok t hen c over s t he unpleas ant but ne c e s s ar y subje c t of A mer ic an Pro hibit i o n
and t he devast at ing ef fe c t it had o n t he island ’s e c o no my.
c o n t i n u e d o n p a g e 27
G o t Ru m ? Se
S e p t e mb e r 2 0 1 5 - 2 5
Th e Ru m Un ive rs ity
T h e s e a r e a f ew o f t h e ex a m p l e s o f o l d
r u m s o n c e p r o d u c e d i n M aya g ü e z, P u e r t o
R i c o.
At its peak, the local rum companies
we r e b ot t l i n g 3 3 d i f f e r e nt r u m s , m a k i n g
M aya g ü e z - a n d P u e r t o R i c o - a ve r i t a b l e
c e nte r o f i n f l u e n c e i n t h e r e g i o n.
S o u r c e:
“L a
I n d us t r i a
Licorera
en
M aya g ü ez, H i s t ó r i c a C a p i ta l M u n d i a l d e l
R o n .”
Got
Got R
Rum
um?? S
Seepptemb
tembeerr 22001155 -- 2266
L ef t t o R i g ht : M a r g a r et Aya l a , Lu i s Aya l a a n d Fe d e r i c o C e d ó A l z a m o r a ,
M aya g ü e z, P u e r t o R i c o
It is c lear t hat t he aut h o r is b ot h pas si o nate and info r me d, w hen it c o me s to r um
and it s illust r i ous histo r y in M ayagüez. I c an o nly w ish t hat m o re c it i e s o r c ount r i e s
t aske d t heir histo r ians w it h similar endeavo r s, s o t heir r um past c ould b e ac c ur ate ly
re c o r de d fo r f uture gener at i o ns to emb r ac e and, h o p ef ully s o me day, b e b rought
bac k to life.
T he b o ok is a de li ght to ho ld and read, but it s value g o e s we ll b eyo nd t he wo r ds
and t he pic ture s c o nt aine d t herein: it rep re sent s a c ultur al le gacy f ro m a t im e
w hen Puer to R ic o r ule d t he r um wo r l d t hrough it s diver sit y and qualit y, not t hrough
quant it y al o ne.
I toast to t he o l d r um pro duc er s f ro m M ayagüez: may your le gacy live fo rever
t hr ough t his b o ok and may t he t aste of your r ums b e re - b o r n s o me day, s o new
g ener at i o ns may fall in l ove w it h t hem...again.
Cheer s!
M ar garet Ayala, Publisher
M argaret@G ot Rum.c o m
G o t Ru m ? S e p t e mb e r 2 0 1 5 - 2 7
M arc o T
Pier
Rum
H Eini
R U- M
H I SHistor
T O R Iian
AN
by M a r c o Pi e r i ni
M
y n a m e i s M a r c o Pi e r i n i, I ow n a n d r u n a
s m a l l to u r i st b u s i n e s s i n my s e a s i d e tow n
i n Tu s c a ny, I t a l y. A l o n g t i m e a g o I g ot
a d e g r e e i n Ph i l o s o p hy i n Fl o r e n c e, I t a l y, a n d I
s t u d i e d Po l i t i c a l S c i e n c e i n M a d r i d, S p a i n. B u t my
r e a l p a s s i o n h a s a l way s b e e n H i sto r y. T h r o u g h
H i s to r y I h ave a l way s t r i e d to k n ow t h e wo r l d, a n d
m e n. L i fe b r o u g ht m e to wo r k i n to u r i s m, eve nt
o r g a n i z at i o n a n d vo c at i o n a l t r a i n i n g. A few ye a r s
a g o I d i s c ove r e d r u m a n d i t wa s l ove at f i r st s i g ht .
N ow, w i t h my yo u n g b u s i n e s s p a r t n e r Fr a n c e s c o
Ru f i n i I r u n a b a r o n t h e b e ac h, L a C a s a d e l Ru m
( T h e H o u s e of Ru m), a n d we di st r i b u te Pr e m i u m
Ru m s a c r o s s Tu s c a ny.
A n d m o s t of a l l, f i n a l l y I h ave r et u r n e d b a c k to
my i n i t i a l p a s s i o n: H i sto r y. O n l y, n ow i t i s t h e
H i s to r y of Ru m.
B e c au s e Ru m i s n ot o n l y a g r e at di st i l l ate, i t ’s
a wo r l d. Pr o d u c e d i n s c o r e s of c o u nt r i e s , by
t h o u s a n d s of c o m p a n i e s , w i t h a n ex t r a o r di n a r y
va r i et y of a r o m a s a n d f l avo u r s; i t h a s a te r r i b l e
a n d f a s c i n at i n g h i sto r y, m a d e of s l ave s a n d
p i r ate s , i m p e r i a l f l e et s a n d r evo l u t i o n s. A n d
i t h a s a c o m p l i c ate d, i nte r e st i n g p r e s e nt to o,
m a d e of p o l i t i c a l a n d c o m m e r c i a l wa r s , of b i g
m u l t i n at i o n a l s , b u t a l s o of m a ny s m a l l a n d m e di u m s i ze d e nte r p r i s e s t h at r e s i st t r i v i a l i z at i o n.
I t r y to c ove r a l l of t h i s i n my I t a l i a n b l o g o n Ru m,
w w w.i l s e c o l o d e l r u m.i t
Got Rum ? S e p temb e r 2 0 1 5 - 2 8
CAC H A Z A
W h e n I b e g a n to w r i te “ O n t h e Q u e s t A g a i n”
to r e l ate t h e n ew ev i d e n c e I h a d f o u n d o n t h e
o r i g i n s of r u m, I d e c i d e d to w r i te 3 a r t i c l e s . T h ey
we r e e n o u g h, I t h o u g ht , to te l l t h e s to r y of v i nu m
a d us tu m i n D u tc h B r a z i l a r o u n d 16 4 0.
B u t i n o r d e r to w r i te a b o u t D u tc h B r a z i l a n d r u m,
I h a d to d e a l a l i t t l e w i t h C o l o n i a l B r a z i l a n d
C a c h a z a . To b e c l e a r : I h ave n ot s t u di e d t h e
H i sto r y of C o l o n i a l B r a z i l a s i t d e s e r ve s a n d i n
t h e C a c h a z a wo r l d I a m a n a b s o l u te b e g i n n e r.
I h ave j u st r e a d a few t h i n g s. A n d I di s c ove r e d
t h at t h e r e i s a sto r y c i r c u l at i n g i n t h e Ru m Wo r l d
(t h e n et of we b s i te s , b o o ks , fe st i va l s , ex p e r t s a n d
a f i c i o n a d o s) a b o u t t h e o r i g i n s of C ac h a z a, q u i te
d i f fe r e nt f r o m w h at I wa s w r i t i n g.
B ef o r e I c o nt i n u e, I h ave to s ay s o m e wo r d s
a b o u t t h e r e l at i o n b et we e n C a c h a z a a n d r u m. I
a m awa r e of t h e ef f o r t s of B r a z i l to d ef e n d a n d
p r o m ote C a c h a z a a s a n at i o n a l p r o d u c t , w i t h i t s
ow n c h a r a c te r i st i c s , d i f fe r e nt f r o m r u m. A n d I
t h i n k t h at i t m a ke s s e n s e to d efe n d t h e o r i g i n a l i t y
of C a c h a z a i n to d ay ’s wo r l d m a r ket . B u t i n r e g a r d s
to my Q u e st , C a c h a z a a n d r u m a r e t h e s a m e
p r o d u c t : a d i st i l l e d b eve r a g e w h o s e r aw m ate r i a l
c o m e s f r o m s u g a r c a n e.
C o m i n g b a c k to my r e a d i n g s , t h e sto r y c i r c u l at i n g
i n t h e Ru m Wo r l d b e g i n s i n 15 32 , w h e n t h e
Po r t u g u e s e st a r te d to c u l t i vate s u g a r c a n e i n
B r a z i l. S o m e s ay t h at t h e d i st i l l at i o n of s u g a r c a n e
p r o d u c t s b e g a n a l m o st i m m e d i ate l y, ot h e r s f ew
T h i s d r a w i n g by D u t c h a r t i s t Fr a n z Po s t s h o w s a s u g a r m i l l o n a s u g a r p l a n t a t i o n i n c o l o n i a l B r a z i l . I t i s c u r r e n t l y ke p t i n
R oy a l M u s e u m s o f F i n e A r t s o f B e l g i u m .
d e c a d e s l ate r. S o m e o n e a d d s t h at t h e Po r t u g u e s e
l e a r n e d d i s t i l l at i o n f r o m t h e A r a b s , ot h e r s st r e s s
t h at i n c o nte m p o r a r y d o c u m e nt s t h e wo r d “c a g a z a”
o r s o m et h i n g l i ke t h at , c a n b e f o u n d. T h e r ef o r e,
t h e o r i g i n s of r u m wo u l d a p p e a r to b e a h u n d r e d
ye a r s b ef o r e M a c r g r af a n d Pi s o’s D u tc h B r a z i l.
A s of te n h a p p e n s , t h i s sto r y i s b o u n c i n g of f f r o m
b o o ks to we b s i te s , f r o m we b s i te s to f e st i va l s , a n d
t h e ot h e r way a r o u n d. A n d f o r t h e s h e e r f ac t of i t s
di f f u s i o n, i t i s g r ow i n g i n p r e st i g e a n d au t h o r i t y. B u t
i t s s o u r c e s a r e n ot c l e a r. S o m e d o n ot q u ote a ny
s o u r c e s at a l l, ot h e r s q u ote n ot c l e a r l y i d e nt i f i e d
w r i t te n d o c u m e nt s .
Fi r s t l y, t h e r e i s a g r e at d e a l of c o nf u s i o n b et we e n
f e r m e nte d a n d d i st i l l e d b eve r a g e s. To p u t i t i n
t h e s i m p l e s t te r m s , f e r m e nt at i o n i s a n e a sy t h i n g,
p r a c t i c e d f o r t h o u s a n d s of ye a r s a l l ove r t h e wo r l d.
D i s t i l l at i o n, o n t h e c o nt r a r y, i s a di f f i c u l t a r t .
C o m m e r c i a l d i s t i l l at i o n wa s n ot c o m m o n i n Eu r o p e
b ef o r e t h e b e g i n n i n g of 16 0 0, a n d i t i s h a r d l y
c o n c e i va b l e t h at i n B r a z i l i t s h o u l d h ave h a p p e n e d
e a r l i e r.
S e c o n d l y, to p r e d ate t h e o r i g i n s of r u m b a c k to
15 0 0 B r a z i l, we n e e d r e l i a b l e s o u r c e s to d o c u m e nt
t h e d i s t i l l at i o n of s u g a r c a n e p r o d u c t s. Fo r i n s t a n c e,
H i s to r i a N a tu r a l i s B r as i l i a e i s s u c h a s o u r c e. N o
o n e, a s f a r a s I k n ow, q u ote s t r u st wo r t hy s o u r c e s.
T h i r d l y, i f yo u u s e a w r i t te n d o c u m e nt a s a s o u r c e
yo u m u s t h ave r e a d i t di r e c t l y o r yo u h ave to t r u st
t h at t h e au t h o r yo u m e nt i o n h a s r e a d i t di r e c t l y.
A n d yo u h ave to c l e a r l y i d e nt i f y i t . I f i t i s a m o d e r n
p r i nte d b o o k , t i t l e, au t h o r a n d d ate of p r i nt c o u l d
b e s u f f i c i e nt . B u t i n c a s e of m a n u s c r i pt s o r a n c i e nt
a n d r a r e b o o ks , t h e r e a d e r s n e e d to k n ow i n w h at
L i b r a r y o r A r c h i ve t h ey a r e c o n s e r ve d, a n d t h e
c l a s s i f i c at i o n n u m b e r s.
Fo u r t h l y, d o c u m e nt s w r i t te n i n t h e Po r t u g u e s e
l a n g u a g e of t h e XVI C e nt u r y a r e n ot e a sy to
u n d e r st a n d, b e c au s e, l i ke En g l i s h, Po r t u g u e s e
h a s c h a n g e d g r e at l y ove r t h e s e 5 0 0 ye a r s a n d t h e
m e a n i n g of t h e wo r d s i s n ot a l way s c l e a r to u s . Fo r
i n st a n c e, d u r i n g m o st of t h e c o l o n i a l p e r i o d, t h e
wo r d “c a c h a z a” wa s c o m m o n l y u s e d f o r t h e f o a m
of t h e c au l d r o n s w h e r e s u g a r c a n e j u i c e b o i l e d, a n d
n ot f o r t h e s p i r i t .
T h e r ef o r e we h ave to c o n c l u d e t h at t h e s to r y a b o u t
t h e o r i g i n s of C a c h a z a i n 15 0 0 B r a z i l i s n ot t r u e
o r, at l e a st , i t i s a s yet u nf o u n d e d. I f i n t h e f u t u r e
s o m e o n e w i l l d i s c ove r n ew, t r u st wo r t hy, s o u r c e s
a b o u t e a r l y d i st i l l at i o n, I w i l l b e h a p py to c h a n g e
my o p i n i o n a n d to b e g i n a n ew Q u e st . B u t at t h e
m o m e nt I m u st c o nf i r m t h at t h e e a r l i e st c o m m e r c i a l
p r o d u c t i o n of r u m t a ke s p l a c e i n D u tc h B r a z i l a r o u n d
16 4 0.
O r m ay b e n ot . Ye s , b e c au s e w h i l e r e a d i n g a b o u t
C a c h a z a I d i d f i n d s o m et h i n g t h at c o u l d d ate b ac k
i t s o r i g i n s to t h e f i r st d e c a d e s of 16 0 0, b ef o r e t h e
a r r i va l of t h e D u tc h. B u t t h i s i s a n ot h e r s to r y.
G o t Ru m ? S e p t e mb e r 2 0 1 5 - 2 9
Got R um ? S e p temb e r 2 0 1 5 - 3 0
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G o t Ru m ? S e p t e mb e r 2 0 1 5 - 3 1
R u m i n t h e n ews
by M ike Kun et ka
YAN K E E D I ST I LLE RS
S E LVA R E Y RU M
B atc h # 1 of Ya nke e D i st i ll e r s C o l o ni a l Rum
i s i n p r o du c t i o n. I t w i ll b e r e l e as e d f i r st
as C o l o ni a l W hi te, w i t h C o l o ni a l A m b e r to
f o ll ow w h e n t h e us e d w hi s key ba r r e l s d o
t h e i r m a g i c . T h e di st i lli n g c o m p a ny, f o un d e d
by M at t h ew J a g e r, Wa lte r K l e e m e i e r a n d
S c ot t Luni n g, r e c e nt ly o p e n e d up t h e i r 9,0 0 0
s qu a r e f o ot f ac i li t y i n C li f to n Pa r k , N Y to t h e
p ub li c . I f r um (a n d t h e i r w hi s key a n d vo dka)
was n ot e n o u g h r e as o n to v i s i t , t h e Shm a lt z
B r ew i n g C o m p a ny i s r i g ht ac r o s s t h e st r e et .
S e l va Rey h as ex p a n d e d t h e i r U.S. di st r i b ut i o n
to n ow i n c lu d e N ew J e r s ey, N ew Yo r k , S o ut h
C a r o li n a, G e o r g i a, Was hi n g to n D C, Te nn e s s e e,
Fl o r i da a n d H awaii, w i t h O nt a r i o, C a n ada to
f o ll ow i n t h e Fa ll. S e l va Rey, r o u g h ly t r a ns l ate s
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t h at i s ow n e d by mus i c i a n B r un o M a r s a n d
S et h G o l d, M a r c G o l d a n d Ro b e r t H e r zi g.
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Fe r n a n d ez, o n e of t h e wo r l d ’s m o st r e n ow n e d
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A M RUT D I ST I LLE R
A m r ut D i st i ll e r i e s i n B a n g a l o r e, I n di a, h as
l o n g b e e n k n ow n f o r t h e i r a m a zi n g s e l e c t i o n
of f i n e s i n g l e m a lt w hi s keys. H oweve r, I n di a
a l s o h a p p e ns to b e t h e b i g g e st r um m a r ket i n
t h e wo r l d, s o i t o n ly m ake s s e ns e f o r A m r ut
to t ur n t h e i r di st i lli n g a n d b l e n di n g t a l e nt s to
r um. T h e n a m e of t h e i r l ate st c r e at i o n, Two
I n di e s Rum, r efe r s to t h e i nte r e st i n g b l e n d
of r um s f r o m t h e We st I n di e s a n d t h e E ast
I n di e s. T h ey s e l e c t C a r i b b e a n r um s f r o m
t h e f i n e st di st i ll e r i e s i n J a m ai c a, G uya n a
a n d B a r bad o s a n d b l e n d t h o s e w i t h r um s
m ad e at t h e i r ow n di st i ll e r y. T h e i r r um s a r e
m ad e f r o m J a g g e r y, a n at ur a l swe ete n e r
t h at i s a s o li di f i e d r e du c t i o n of c a n e j ui c e,
c o m m o n ly us e d to m ake c a n dy i n I n di a. I t i s
s ai d t h at J a g g e r y c o nt ai ns nut r i e nt s t h at ai d
i n di g e st i o n a n d h e lp s c l e a n t h e r e s p i r ato r y
t r ac t , sto m ac h a n d i nte st i n e s. T h e r um s a r e
c o m b i n e d a n d t h e n a g e d a g ai n to r o un d
o ut t h e m i x t ur e. T h e hi g h - e ste r, p ot- st i ll
C a r i b b e a n r um s a n d t h e s m o ot h c o lum n - st i ll
r um s of I n di a m ake f o r a n i nte r e st i n g b l e n d,
c o m b i ni n g t h e b e st of t wo c ult ur e s. A m r ut
a l s o m ake s a m o r e t r adi t i o n a l m o l as s e s
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PLANTAT I ON RU M S
Re g ul a r r e ad e r s w i ll k n ow h ow f o n d I a m of
Pl a nt at i o n r um s. T hi s sum m e r, t h e Pi n e a p p l e
S t i g g i ns Fa n c y Rum h as b e e n a p o p ul a r dr i nk
i n my h o us e. I a m g l ad to s e e t h at di st r i b ut i o n
h as b e e n g r e at ly i n c r e as e d a n d t hi s f i n e r um
i s r e adi ly avai l a b l e. I a m to l d t h at i t w i ll b e
r e l e as e d a nnu a lly a r o un d A p r i l / M ay a n d J uly/
Au g ust , bas e d up o n t h e avai l a b i li t y of t h e
Q u e e n V i c to r i a p i n e a p p l e s. M o r e t h a n 2,0 0 0
p o un ds of t h e s e s p e c i a l p i n e a p p l e s f r o m t h e
i s l a n d of Re uni o n a r e h a n d - p e e l e d f o r eve r y
batc h of S t i g g i ns.
ST. AUGU ST I N E D I ST I LLE RY
O n S e pte m b e r 3 r d, r um f a ns i n S t . Au g ust i n e
w i ll b e a b l e to te st t h e f i r st of fe r i n g of S t .
Au g ust i n e’s D i s c ove r y S e r i e s of r um s. T h e
D i s c ove r y S e r i e s i s a g r o up of li m i te d r e l e as e
ex p r e s s i o ns, c r e ate d dur i n g t h e d eve l o p m e nt
of t h e D i st i ll e r y ’s f l a g s hi p r um. E ac h o n e h as
b e e n fe r m e nte d a n d di st i ll e d o n - s i te f r o m s e l e c t
r e g i o n a l su g a r c a n e sy r up s a n d m o l a s s e s i n
c o p p e r p ot st i ll s a n d t h e n ba r r e l - a g e d f o r a
di st i n c t f l avo r p r of i l e. S e r i e s 2, 3 a n d 4 w i ll
f o ll ow i n O c to b e r, N ove m b e r a n d D e c e m b e r.
T h e s e a r e t h e m o s t r e c e nt a n d n o tew o r t hy h e a d l i n e s i n t h e r u m i n d u s t r y. I f yo u wa nt u s t o s h a r e
yo u r n ew s w i t h o u r r e a d e r s , p l e a s e s e n d a n e m a i l t o M i ke @ g ot r u m.c o m. M i ke Ku n et k a i s a a l a n d l o c ke d r u m e nt h u s i a s t , h e i s b a s e d i n C o l o r a d o, US A a n d i s o u r n ewe s t c o nt r i b u t o r.
Phi li p M c D a ni e l, c o - f o un d e r a n d C EO of S t .
Au g ust i n e, s ays t h at t hi s p r o c e s s w i ll a ll ow
B r e n da n W h e at l ey, D i r e c to r of Pr o du c t i o n, to
“di a l i n t h e b e st c o m b i n at i o n of su g a r s o ur c e s
a n d di st i ll at i o n te c hni qu e s f o r a f i r st- r ate f i n a l
r um r e c i p e.” T h e D i st i ll e r y ’s f l a g s hi p r um (o r
f i n a l r e c i p e) i s s l ate d f o r a J a nu a r y 2 016
r e l e as e. T h e f o ur r e l e as e s w i ll b e avai l a b l e
at t h e di st i ll e r y o n R i b e r i a S t r e et . To ur s a r e
of fe r e d at va r i o us t i m e s t h r o u g h o ut t h e day
a n d t h e r e i s a g i f t s h o p a n d t h e I c e Pl a nt B a r
a n d Re st aur a nt .
CA P TA I N M O RGAN
T h e l ate st c o m p a ny to dr aw D i a g e o’s i r e
ove r c o py r i g ht i nf r i n g e m e nt i s C a pt ai n
A m ste r da m, a C a li f o r ni a bas e d e - c i g a r et te
a n d h e r ba l r e m e dy c o m p a ny. D i a g e o c l ai m s
t h at C a pt ai n A m ste r da m h as us e d a c h a r ac te r
a n d l et te r i n g to o s i m i l a r to C a pt ai n M o r g a n i n
t h e i r ad ve r t i s i n g m ate r i a l ’s a r t wo r k . D i a g e o
fe e l s t h at C a pt ai n M o r g a n i s o n e of t h e m o st
we ll k n ow n a n d i c o ni c s p i r i t b r a n ds i n t h e US
a n d w i ll d o w h at i s n e c e s s a r y to p r ote c t i t ’s
b r a n d.
T h e l ate st ad di t i o n to t h e C a pt ai n M o r g a n
p o r t f o li o i s a n i nte r e st i n g b l e n d of r um,
C a r i b b e a n c i t r us a n d s p i c y c hi p ot l e a n d
j a l a p e n o p e p p e r s c a ll e d C a nn o n B l ast . A i m e d
at t h e g r ow i n g ‘s h ot ’ m a r ket , C a nn o n B l ast
of fe r s a n a lte r n at i ve to va r i o us c i nn a m o n
w hi s k i e s t h at a r e s o p o p ul a r r i g ht n ow. It i s
p ac ka g e d i n a c r e at i ve c a nn o n ba ll s h a p e d
b ot t l e at 3 5% A BV.
R AT I ONAL S PI R I T S
R at i o n a l S p i r i t s was f o un d e d e a r li e r t hi s ye a r
a n d w i ll p r o du c e o n ly p ot st i ll r um s t h at h ave
n o ad d e d i n g r e di e nt s, e s p e c i a lly su g a r s.
S a nte r i a Rum, t h e i r f i r st of fe r i n g, w i ll b e a
dun d e r- p i t st y l e J a m ai c a n r um, p r o du c e d
i n as s o c i at i o n w i t h t h e i nn ovat i ve di st i ll e r y,
Lo st S p i r i t s. R at i o n a l S p i r i t s ex p e c t s to st a r t
o p e r at i o ns at i t s ow n f ac i li t y i n C h a r l e sto n
l ate r t hi s ye a r. To h e lp p r o m ote t h e i r n ew
r um, R at i o n a l S p i r i t s h as hi r e d H e l e n a
O l s e n, n ote d r um a n d T ik i b l o g g e r, as t h e i r
B r a n d A m bas s ad o r. H e l e n a, un d e r h e r we b
n a m e T i a r e, h as h o ste d t h e b e aut i f ul a n d
i nf o r m at i ve b l o g, A M o unt ai n of C r us h e d
I c e. S h e w i ll h e lp c r e ate b r a n d awa r e n e s s of
R at i o n a l S p i r i t s, c r e ate s i g n at ur e c o c k t a i l s,
at te n d i n dust r y eve nt s a n d c o n du c t va r i o us
t ast i n g eve nt s. S h e w i ll a l s o b e i n c h a r g e of
a ll R at i o n a l S p i r i t s s o c i a l m e di a. I n a p r e s s
r e l e as e, H e l e n a s ai d ” I a m ve r y exc i te d a b o ut
t hi s r um. I t hi nk t h e us e of b ot h hi sto r i c a l
r e s e a r c h i nto r um p r o du c t i o n m et h o ds a n d
n ew te c hn o l o g i c a l a p p r o ac h e s b r i n g s a n
i nte r e st i n g n ew di m e ns i o n to c r af t s p i r i t s.”
BACA R D I
I n 19 9 5, B ac a r di i nt r o du c e d t h e i r f i r st f l avo r e d
r um, Li m o n. Li m o n was a t r e m e n d o us su c c e s s
a n d B ac a r di f o ll owe d w i t h num e r o us f l avo r e d
of fe r i n g s. To m a r k t h e 2 0 t h a nni ve r s a r y of
Li m o n, B ac a r di h as j ust r e l e as e d B ac a r di
Ta n g e r i n e. Like t h e ot h e r ex p r e s s i o ns,
Ta n g e r i n e c o m b i n e s B ac a r di S up e r i o r W hi te
Rum w i t h f r ui t f l avo r s. I t i s b ot t l e d at 3 5% A BV
a n d w i ll i n c o r p o r ate B ac a r di ’s n ew p ac ka g i n g
d e s i g n. S o un ds like a g r e at ad di t i o n to t h o s e
b o r i n g S un day M o r ni n g M i m o s as.
CA R I B B E AN RU M COLLEC T I ON
I ns i d e G r a nt l ey I nte r n at i o n a l A i r p o r t i n
B a r bad o s, t h e r e i s n ew ad di t i o n to t h e D ut y Fr e e a r e a c a ll e d t h e C a r i b b e a n Rum C o ll e c t i o n.
T h e s h o p i s a c o m b i n e d ef f o r t of t h e We st
I n di e s Rum & S p i r i t s Pr o du c e r s’ A s s o c i at i o n
a n d t h e Aut h e nt i c C a r i b b e a n Rum M a r qu e to
p r o m ote t h e qu a li t y, hi sto r y a n d ve r s at i li t y
of aut h e nt i c C a r i b b e a n r um s. T h e s h o p w i ll
fe at ur e m o r e t h a n 8 0 r um s f r o m ac r o s s t h e
C a r i b b e a n a n d w i ll i n c lu d e i nf o r m at i o n o n t h e
b r a n ds, t h e m et h o ds of p r o du c t i o n a n d t h e
c ult ur e s sur r o un d t h e r um s.
J BALLY
I n 1917 J ac qu e s B a lly st a r te d a g i n g hi s f i n e
r hum i n o ak ba r r e l s. T h e di st i ll e r y c l o s e d
i n 19 8 9 a n d t h e r hum s a r e n ow m ad e at t h e
S t . J a m e s di st i ll e r y. J B a lly h as a l ways b e e n
k n ow n f o r i t s s p e c i a l r e l e as e s, i n c lu di n g t h o s e
i n t h e b e aut i f ul py r a m i d - s h a p e d b ot t l e s.
I f yo u a r e lu c k y e n o u g h to b e i n M a r t i ni qu e,
a t r u e R hum H e ave n, b e sur e to l o o k up t h e
l ate st r e l e as e, J B a lly Re s e r ve d e l a Fa m i ll e,
a s p e c i a l b l e n d of 8 to 12 ye a r o l d r hum s. Yo u
w i ll a lm o st b e li eve t h at yo u a r e t ast i n g s o m e
hi d d e n f a m i ly t r e asur e.
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L ef t t o r i g ht : J o s é G o n z á l e z C h a r n e c o a n d Fr a n k C. S t i p e s
O n e o f t h e t h i n g s I e n j oy t h e m o s t a b o u t “ G ot
Ru m? ” i s t h e m a g a z i n e’s a b i l i t y t o r e c o r d, s h a r e
a n d p e r p et u a te i n f o r m a t i o n w i t h i t s r e a d e r s .
C o n d u c t i n g t h e E xc l u s i ve I nte r v i ew s a l l o w s
m e t o p r o m pt m e m b e r s o f t h e r u m i n d u s t r y f o r
i n s i g ht s t h at w o u l d o t h e r w i s e b e b eyo n d t h e
r e a c h o f c o n s u m e r s a n d c o l l e a g u e s . I ’ ve h a d
t h e p l e a s u r e o f k n o w i n g M r. Fr a n k S t i p e s a n d
I c a n s ay, w i t h o u t a ny h e s i t a t i o n, t h a t h e i s a s
p a s s i o n ate a b o u t r u m a s o n e c a n b e c o m e. H i s
e nt h u s i a s m , c l a r i t y o f v i s i o n a n d d evot i o n t o
a c t i o n a r e 10 0 % r u m c e nt r i c . I a m ve r y exc i te d
a b o u t w h at h e i s d o i n g
for the Puer to Rican rum
industr y in par ticular and
t h e r u m i n d u s t r y i n g e n e r a l.
I w i s h h i m a n d eve r yo n e a t
Rones Superiores much
success.
C h e e r s!
M a r g a r e t Aya l a , P u b l i s h e r
Got R um ? S e p temb e r 2 0 1 5 - 3 4
Q : W h a t i s yo u r f u l l n a m e , t i t l e , c o m p a ny n a m e
a n d c o m p a ny l o c a t i o n?
Fr a n k C. S t i p e s , o w n e r o f R o n e s S u p e r i o r e s d e
P u e r t o R i c o & C o m p a ñ i a I n c ., l o c ate d i n M aya g ü e z,
P u e r t o R i c o.
Fi r s t o f a l l, we a r e p r i v i l e g e d t o p r ov i d e t h i s
i nte r v i ew r e g a r d i n g t h i s o l d /n ew P u e r t o R i c a n r u m
b r a n d, t h at i s s h o r t l y t o b e r e - l a u n c h e d. A r u m
w h i c h wa s i n i t s d ay, a s i t w i l l b e a g a i n, e m b l e m at i c
o f P u e r t o R i c o’s t r a d i t i o n s a n d h e r i t a g e o f f i n e r u m
m a k i n g, at i t s b e s t .
B ef o r e g et t i n g i nt o t h e m at te r at h a n d I c o n g r at u l ate
yo u a n d Lu i s f o r t h i s exc e l l e nt m a g a z i n e, “ G o t
R u m? ”. I t ’s a t r u e e nt h u s i a s t s a n d c o n n o i s s e u r s
“ m u s t ”. Fo r t h e f o l l o we r s a n d r u m l ove r s o f t h e
w o r l d, i t i s o n e o f t h e m o s t i m p o r t a nt , “ i n f o r m at i o n
s t at i o n s” i f n ot t h e m o s t , o n t h e s u b j e c t we s o m u c h
l ove, a p p r e c i ate a n d e n j oy ; r u m. H e n c ef o r t h, we
a r e h o n o r e d t o p r ov i d e t h i s i nte r v i ew t o w h at I
c o n s i d e r t o b e t h e w o r l d ’s p r i n c i p a l a n d s p e c i a l i ze d
p u b l i c at i o n o n t h e s u b j e c t , a n d, a s s a i d b ef o r e, a
“ m u s t r e a d ” by t r u e e nt h u s i a s t s , n ew c o m e r s , c o n n o i s s e u r s
a n d f o l l o we r s w h o eve r a n d w h e r eve r t h ey m ay b e. T h a n k
yo u f o r yo u r i nte r e s t .
Q : T h e s t o r y o f Ro n S u p e r i o r d a t e s b a c k q u i t e a b i t .
W h e n w a s t h e b r a n d f i r s t c r e a t e d a n d by w h o m?
J o s é G o nz á l ez C l e m e nte (1874 -19 4 4)
Ye s , i t d o e s . T h e b r a n d i s t o t h i s d ay 10 6 ye a r s o l d. T h e
o r i g i n s o f R o n S u p e r i o r P u e r t o R i c o d a te b a c k t o t h e l ate
18 0 0 ’s , w h e n J o s é G o n z á l e z C l e m e nte, i t s c r e at o r, c a m e
t o t h e i s l a n d o f P u e r t o R i c o f r o m h i s n a t i ve S p a i n, at t h e
te n d e r a g e o f 15 .
H e wa nte d t o m a ke a l i v i n g a n d l i f e o n h i s o w n, a n d a s
s o m a ny i m m i g r a nt s wa nte d a t t h e t i m e, f i n d f a m e a n d
f o r t u n e. H i s f a m i l y h a d b e e n, f o r g e n e r a t i o n s , i n t h e l i q u o r
t r a d e. A s s o o n a s h e wa s a b l e t o r a i s e s o m e c a p i t a l f r o m
h i s h a r d l a b o r a n d s av i n g s , w o r k i n g i n t h e m o u nt a i n c o f f e e
f a r m s o f P u e r t o R i c o, h e s t a r te d t o d e d i c a te t i m e t o h i s
t r u e p a s s i o n; e l a b o r a t i n g , c o n c o c t i n g a n d c r e at i n g f i n e
l i q u o r s w i t h s u g a r c a n e d i s t i l l e d s p i r i t s , a n d a g i n g ot h e r s
i nt o r u m s . T h e s e r u m s h a d s u c h a n a p p e a l, t h at by 19 0 2
h e h a d b e c o m e we l l k n o w n i n t h e We s t C o a s t , m ov i n g t o
t h e c i t y o f M aya g ü e z, t o ex p a n d w h a t h a d b e c o m e h i s
a b s o l u te p a s s i o n, b u s i n e s s a n d way o f l i f e. M aya g ü e z wa s
we l l k n o w n f o r t h e p r o l i f e r a t i o n a n d n u m b e r o f r u m s m a d e
i n t h e S p a n i s h A nt i l l e a n t r a d i t i o n s a n d i n h e r e nt t r a i t s o f
t h e “J e r e z ” (s h e r r y) p r o d u c e r s . H e n c ef o r t h, t h e r e wa s a n
a m p l e a n d n at u r a l s t o c k o f r aw m a te r i a l s f o r f i n e r u m s .
To p u t t h i n g s i n p e r s p e c t i ve; t h e r e we r e ove r 3 3 d i f f e r e nt r u m
b r a n d s b e i n g m a d e i n M aya g ü e z a l o n e, a n d m a ny ot h e r s i n
t h e r e g i o n w i t h i n t h e f i r s t h a l f o f t h e 2 0 t h c e nt u r y. A m o n g
a l l, R o n S u p e r i o r b e c a m e t h e m o s t f avo r e d, c h e r i s h e d
a n d e m b l e m at i c o f t h e r e g i o n’s t r a d i t i o n s , ex p a n d i n g by
19 0 9 t h e p r o d u c t i o n o f t h e r e c o g n i ze d b r a n d n a m e o f R o n
S u p e r i o r P u e r t o R i c o u n d e r t h e c o m p a ny t h a t b o r e h i s o w n, “J o s é G o n z á l e z C l e m e nte y C o m p a ñía”. T h i s wa s
a n e r a w h e r e P u e r t o R i c a n r u m s we r e t r u e t o t h e i r S p a n i s h A nt i l l e a n h e r i t a g e. T h ey we r e a te s t a m e nt t o t h e
f i n e e l a b o r ate r u m m a k i n g p r o c e s s e s t h a t m a d e t h e m s o ve r y s p e c i a l; t h ey we r e d a r k , s m o ot h, a r o m at i c a n d
p r o u d l y c a r r i e d t h e c h a r a c te r i s t i c s o f t h e i r s u g a r c a n e o r i g i n; a f a r c r y f r o m w h at , t h r o u g h o u t t h e d e c a d e s ,
b e c a m e a c ate g o r y o r s t y l e k n o w n a s “ l i g ht r u m s”.
R o n S u p e r i o r P u e r t o R i c o wa s r e c o g n i ze d a n d va l u e d a s t h e “ b e s t a m o n g t h e b e s t ” a n d wa s t h e n r ef e r r e d t o
a s “ t h e r u m a m o n g r u m s”. I t wa s r e d d i s h d a r k i n c o l o r, w i t h a b e a u t i f u l a n d s e n s u a l m ove m e nt a n d b o d y t o i t ,
w h i c h e l evate d a n d b r o u g ht f o r t h a n a p p e a l i n g s e n s o r i a l ex p e r i e n c e.
We a r e r e - l a u n c h i n g t h i s h i s t o r i c b r a n d t r u e t o t h e s e t r a d i t i o n s a n d h e r i t a g e. A s a te s t a m e nt t o t h i s , t h e m o s t
i m p o r t a nt c o m m e r c i a l s t r e et o f t h e d ay i n M aya g ü e z, w h i c h c o n s o l i d ate d t h e p o r t s w i t h t h e c i t y, wa s c a l l e d
“ C a l l e C o m e r c i o d e l a M a r i n a”. T h a t i m p o r t a nt s t r e et t o d ay b e a r s t h e n a m e o f “J o s é G o n z á l e z C l e m e nte” i n
h i s h o n o r. T h i s r e - l a u n c h i n g o f t h e b r a n d i s i n h i s h o n o r a s we l l; a n d m a r ks t h e r et u r n t o t h e t r a d i t i o n s a n d
exc e l l e n c e o f f i n e P u e r t o R i c o r u m m a k i n g a t i t s a b s o l u te b e s t .
Q : A t i t s p e a k , d o yo u k n o w r o u g h l y h o w m a ny b o t t l e s o r c a s e s o f Ro n S u p e r i o r w e r e s o l d p e r ye a r ?
I n c o nve r s at i o n s I ’ ve h a d w i t h my p a r t n e r a n d g o o d f r i e n d, J o s é G o n z á l e z C h a r n e c o (g r a n d s o n o f t h e f o u n d e r
J o s é G o n z á l e z C l e m e nte a n d t h e l a s t Pr e s i d e nt o f t h e f a m i l y o w n e d b u s i n e s s b ef o r e i t wa s s o l d), t h e n u m b e r
o f c a s e s s o l d at i t s h e i g ht we r e a p p r ox i m a te l y 5 0 0, 0 0 0.
T h e p o p u l a r i t y o f t h e b r a n d a m o n g e nt h u s i a s t s i n t h e e a r l y 19 5 0 ’s (a n d a g a i n i n t h e 19 6 0 ’s) wa s s u c h t h at t h ey
we r e t o t a l l y s o l d o u t , g o i n g c o m p l ete l y o u t o f s t o c k . T h i s h a d t h e te r r i b l e c o n s e q u e n c e o f h av i n g t h e b r a n d o u t
o f t h e m a r ket f o r we l l ove r a ye a r. T h e r e wa s n o i nve nt o r y l ef t o r ava i l a b l e, at t h e m at u r i t y o r a g i n g n e e d e d t o
f i l l t h e g a p s u n d e r t h e r u m b r a n d ’s s t o c ks .
N eve r t h e l e s s , i t wa s t h e s t r o n g e s t te s t t o t h e c o m m i t m e nt o f a n d t o t h e b r a n d.
T h e r e s p e c t f o r exc e l l e n c e,
G o t Ru m ? S e p t e mb e r 2 0 1 5 - 3 5
a g i n g c h a r a c te r i s t i c s a n d q u a l i t y o f t h e b r a n d wa s s u c h, t h at u n d e r n o c i r c u m s t a n c e s w o u l d t h ey c u t a ny
c o r n e r s o r s e l l a ny o t h e r f o r m u l a te d r u m u n d e r t h e i r b r a n d n a m e t h at d i d n ot m e et t h e i r s t r i c t s t a n d a r d s a n d
c r i te r i a . I t t o o k t h e m we l l ove r a ye a r t o f i n a l l y r e a c h t h e a g i n g t h ey n e e d e d o n t h e ava i l a b l e s t o c k , t o b e a b l e t o
g et t h e r u m r e a d y f o r m a r ket , “ a n d b a c k o n t h e s t r e et ”. T h i s i s w h at m a k i n g exc e l l e nt r u m i s a l l a b o u t . Q u a l i t y,
p a s s i o n a n d b e i n g t r u e t o t h e exc e l l e n c e t h e b r a n d r e p r e s e nt s a n d i s ex p e c te d t o b e a b ove a l l.
Q : T h i s i s f a s c i n a t i n g ! W hy t h e n , d i d t h e b r a n d e n d u p d i s a p p e a r i n g f r o m t h e r u m l a n d s c a p e?
A s f a r a s I k n o w a n d w h a t I h ave b e e n a b l e t o p e r c e i ve t h r o u g h b r i ef c o nve r s at i o n s w i t h my p a r t n e r, (w h o,
a s I m e nt i o n e d b ef o r e, wa s t h e l a s t f a m i l y m e m b e r – P r e s i d e nt o f t h e f a m i l y o w n e d b u s i n e s s a n d g r a n d s o n
o f t h e f o u n d e r b ef o r e i t wa s s o l d), a s s u c c e s s i o n s t o o k p l a c e ( i n h e r i t i n g s t o c k i n t h e c o m p a ny), t h e r e we r e
d i f f e r e nt v i ew s o n w h a t t o d o r e g a r d i n g t h e f o r e c a s t s , v i s i o n a n d ex p e c t at i o n s i n a n d f o r t h e f a m i l y b u s i n e s s .
T h i s c o u p l e d w i t h a n u m b e r o f e c o n o m i c i s s u e s t h at at t h e t i m e (t h e m i d 1970 ’s), t h e I n d u s t r y a s a w h o l e wa s
c o n f r o nt i n g ( b u t c l e a r l y s u r m o u nt a b l e, i f n ot f o r t h e i m p a s s e c r e ate d by t h e c o n f l i c t i n g v i ew s) t h e d i f f i c u l t
d e c i s i o n wa s m a d e t o s e l l t h e f a m i l y b u s i n e s s .
T h e n ew o w n e r s , u n r e l a te d t o t h e f a m i l y, i n a s h o r t p e r i o d o f t i m e h a d l eve r a g e d t h e o p e r at i o n, l a n g u i s h e d
f r o m i t s c o r e p r i n c i p l e s o f r u m m a k i n g , a n d i n a m at te r o f ye a r s t h e c o m p a ny e n d e d o u t o f b u s i n e s s , h a l t i n g t h e
p r o d u c t i o n a n d e l a b o r a t i o n o f t h i s o n c e b e s t - s e l l i n g, e m b l e m at i c , h i s t o r i c b r a n d.
T h i s r e - l a u n c h i n g i s b e s t ex p r e s s e d i n n o b et te r w o r d s t h a n t h o s e o f my p a r t n e r, J o s é ( Pe p o) G o n z á l e z C h a r n e c o
h i m s e l f, w h i c h I a m h o n o r e d t o q u o te: “ f o r ove r 4 0 n e a r by ye a r s t h i s b r a n d h a s b e e n i n a n i nte l l e c t u a l a g i n g
p r o c e s s , a n d n o w, w h a t I a l way s d r e a m e d w o u l d h a p p e n, t h i s ve r y s p e c i a l u l t r a - p r e m i u m r u m , w i l l b e a g a i n
ava i l a b l e t o s h a r e a n d e n j oy by a l l i n P u e r t o R i c o a n d t h e w o r l d! ” G o d p e r m i t , s o i t w i l l b e.
T h e p r o d u c t i o n f o r t h e f i r s t ye a r i s f o r e c a s te d a n d l i m i te d t o 10, 0 0 0 c a s e s . Yo u c a n j u s t i m a g i n e t h e e n o r m o u s
ex p e c t at i o n a n d exc i te m e nt t h e r e i s t o a g a i n, h ave ava i l a b l e t h i s h i s t o r i c , e m b l e m at i c b r a n d, p r o d u c e d i n t h e
“o l d s c h o o l ” t r a d i t i o n o f f i n e P u e r t o R i c a n r u m s , o f a n ot h e r e r a , a t r a d i t i o n o f ove r 3 0 0 ye a r s i n t h e m a k i n g, a n d
r e p r e s e nte d i n t h i s b r a n d t h a t i s ove r 10 6 ye a r s o l d.
Q : W h e n d i d yo u s t a r t p l ay i n g w i t h t h e i d e a o f r ev i v i n g t h i s f l a g s h i p p r o d u c t ? I s t h e r e a nyo n e e l s e , a
p a r t n e r i n yo u r b u s i n e s s w h o i s p l ay i n g a key r o l e i n t h i s r ev i va l?
I n r e g a r d t o t h e f i r s t p a r t o f yo u r q u e s t i o n:
T h e i d e a h a d b e e n l i n g e r i n g i n my m i n d f o r a ve r y l o n g
t i m e, a s a m at te r o f f a c t , f o r d e c a d e s . S i n c e my c h i l d h o o d
I e n j oye d g o i n g t o my g r a n d p a r e nt s’ p a nt r y a n d b a r. I
wo u l d s p e n d h o u r s l o o k i n g a t t h e d i f f e r e nt l i q u o r b ot t l e s .
I l ove d p u l l i n g o u t t h e i r c o r ks , h o w i t s o u n d e d, a n d u n c a p
ot h e r s . I t m a d e m e f e e l l i ke I wa s i n a n o t h e r w o r l d o f
u n p a r a l l e l e d a r o m a s , e l e g a n c e a n d g o o d t a s te; a n o b l e
v i nt a g e f e e l o f s p e c i a l, m a g n i f i c e nt m o m e nt s a n d l a s t i n g
i m p r e s s i o n s . I t wa s b l i s s!
I e n j oye d s m e l l i n g t h e i r c o nte nt s . I m u s t h ave b e e n 6 o r
7 ye a r s o l d. A t t h a t a g e yo u a r e m o s t l y a t t r a c te d by t h e
a r o m at i c c h a r a c te r i s t i c s . A t l e a s t , I wa s . I r e m e m b e r
t a s t i n g s o m e o f t h e m . T h ey f e l t s t r o n g , a b u r n i n g s e n s at i o n
a n d i n a way r e p u l s i ve t o m e. H o w i m p r e s s i o n s c h a n g e
w i t h a g e!
M y g r a n d f at h e r h a d b e e n a d i s t i l l e r a n d r u m p r o d u c e r f r o m
19 3 8 u nt i l t h e e a r l y 19 6 0 ’s , h av i n g p a r t n e r e d w i t h H i r a m
Wa l ke r a n d S o n s . A f te r d i s s o l v i n g t h e i r r e l at i o n s h i p, t h e
r u m p l a nt b e c a m e a c a t t l e f e e d p r o d u c t i o n o p e r at i o n. A s
C a pt a i n “J a c k S p a r r o w ” o f “ Pi r a te s o f t h e C a r i b b e a n” w o u l d
s ay, “ T h e r u m s we r e g o n e”. I s t i l l h ave s o m e o f t h o s e “o l d ”
r u m b ot t l e s a n d m e m o r a b i l i a o f t h e b r a n d w i t h m e t o d ay.
D e c a d e s l ate r, i n t h e l a te 1970 ’s , I h e a r d t h e n ew s t h at
t h e m o s t r e c o g n i ze d, s o u g ht a f te r a n d c l a s s i c r u m o f t h e
Got R um ? S e p temb e r 2 0 1 5 - 3 6
we s te r n r e g i o n o f P u e r t o R i c o, R o n S u p e r i o r, w o u l d n ot b e p r o d u c e d a ny m o r e. I t wa s h a r d t o b e l i eve. W hy
wo u l d a b r a n d o f t h a t c a l i b e r, c a te g o r y, f o l l o w i n g a n d h i s t o r y n ot c o nt i n u e t o b e p r o d u c e d? I t wa s a my s te r y
t o m e. S a d l y, “ T h i s r u m wa s a l s o g o n e”.
I c o u l d s t i l l r e m e m b e r i t s a d s , “ a l way s e m u l a te d b u t n eve r e q u a l e d…”, “ a t r a d i t i o n o f q u a l i t y a n d exc e l l e n c e
u n s u r p a s s e d…”. I t wa s t h e n t h a t I d e c i d e d, t h at s o m e d ay, i f I h a d t h e o p p o r t u n i t y a n d t i m e, I w o u l d b r i n g
b a c k t h i s b r a n d a n d o t h e r s , r e s c u i n g t h e f i n e c h a r a c te r i s t i c s o f w h at f i n e P u e r t o R i c a n r u m m a k i n g h a d b e e n
a l l a b o u t b u t h a d b e e n a b a n d o n e d d e c a d e s a g o. I wa s n ot g o i n g t o p r o d u c e a n ot h e r r u m i n t h e s t y l e t h ey
h a d b e c o m e a n d k n o w n i n t h e m a i n s t r e a m , b u t w h at t h ey we r e a n d w o u l d b e a g a i n; c l a s s i c , p r e m i u m P u e r t o
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a p p r e c i at i o n o f a f i n e b r ew “o f E s p r e s s o”; i n t h e r et r o d e s i g n s s u c h a s t h e “ C o nve r s e A l l S t a r ” s p o r t s s h o e,
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t o b a s i c s” wa s a n d i s w h e r e “ t h e f u t u r e l i e s a h e a d ”.
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h i s t o r y, h e r i t a g e a n d a b ove a l l, p a s s i o n!
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t h at e n d e avo r.
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h i s t o r i c a n d e m b l e m a t i c P u e r t o R i c a n r u m , g o i n g b a c k t o i t s r o ot s f o r a l l t o d i s c ove r o n c e a g a i n a n d e n j oy.
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t o h a p p e n. T h e s e c o n d p a r t o f yo u r q u e s t i o n, t h at ve r y i m p o r t a nt , key p e r s o n yo u a r e a s k i n g a b o u t , i s t h e
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i n l i f e w i t h R o n S u p e r i o r P u e r t o R i c o. I t wa s a b l e s s i n g t o j o i n f o r c e s w i t h J o s é ( Pe p o) G o n z á l e z C h a r n e c o.
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p a g e. We b ot h c a r r y r u m t h r o u g h o u r ve i n s .
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r i g ht . Pe p o h a d b e e n t h e l a s t f a m i l y m e m b e r at t h e h e l m o f t h e c o m p a ny t h at p r o d u c e d R o n S u p e r i o r P u e r t o
R i c o p r i o r t o i t b e i n g s o l d. T h e m i s s i n g l i n k o f t h e c h a i n o f eve nt s t o f o l l o w h a d b e e n f o u n d, p u t i n p l a c e a n d
l o c ke d, f o r t h i s 10 6 - ye a r- o l d b r a n d t o m a ke i t s g r a n d r e s u r g e n c e.
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o n c e we r e a n d w i l l b e a g a i n, h e r e a n d n o w, t r u e t o i t s u n i q u e h e r i t a g e a n d h i s t o r y.
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r o o t s o f t h e 19 2 0 ’s (e n a c te d i n P u e r t o R i c o a s o f 1917 ). We h ave b e e n e n r i c h e d a n d e n h a n c e d by c o n s t a nt
c o n s u l t at i o n a n d va l i d a t i o n w i t h t h o s e we h ave f o u n d t h r o u g h o u t t h i s j o u r n ey t o b e t h e a b s o l u te b e s t , m o s t
k n o w l e d g e a b l e, p a s s i o n a te a n d c o m m i t te d a p o s t l e s o f o u r s a m e c r e e d, t o e l a b o r ate a n d l a u n c h t h i s f i n e,
exc l u s i ve a n d u n i q u e r u m , t r u e t o i t s h e r i t a g e, t r a d i t i o n s a n d h i s t o r y. We s e e a n d f e e l t h i s a s p u r i s t s , i n t h e
c o n c e pt o f o l d P u e r t o R i c o r u m m a k i n g.
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yo u d e s c r i b e w h a t t h e s e a r e a n d h o w yo u w e r e a b l e t o s e c u r e t h e m?
Ye s , t h e b u i l d i n g s a r e a m a z i n g.
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b a s i c s” r e a l l y m e a nt . I t h a d t o b e a p l a c e c l e a r l y i n l i n e w i t h o u r v i s i o n, w i t h t h e s a m e e n e r g y a n d sy n e r g y o f
R o n S u p e r i o r…a p l a c e w h e r e we w o u l d b e m a k i n g t h i s g r e at r u m a n d w r i t i n g h i s t o r y o n c e m o r e.
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Re s e r ve, b u t c o u l d n o t f i n d i t . S o m e s a i d i t h a d b e e n d e m o l i s h e d, ot h e r s t h at i t h a d b e e n va n d a l i ze d a n d
d e s t r oye d, b u t I n e e d e d t o f i n d o u t f o r my s e l f. A f te r d ay s , g o i n g b a c k a n d f o r t h s i x t i m e s c ove r i n g t h e s a m e
r o a d, w i t h o u t b e i n g a b l e t o l o c a te t h e p r o p e r t y, I d e c i d e d t o t a ke o n e l a s t d r i ve. T h i s t i m e I d r ove s l o w l y,
l o o k i n g t o o n e s i d e o f t h e r o a d o n e way a n d t h e n o n l y t o t h e ot h e r s i d e a s I m a d e my way b a c k . I t wa s t h e n,
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a n d b u i l d i n g s we r e a b a n d o n e d; n a t u r e h a d l i te r a l l y “ s wa l l o we d t h e b u i l d i n g s”; f e r n s a n d v i n e s we r e a l l ove r
t h e m , m a k i n g t h e m i nv i s i b l e t o p a s s e r s - by f r o m t h e r o a d; t h ey h a d t r e e s g r o w i n g o n t h e i r r o o f s , n at u r e h a d
l i te r a l l y t a ke n ove r t h e m f r o m t o p t o b o t t o m.
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I n o u r f i r s t v i s i t we h a d t o c u t o u r way t h r o u g h t o e nte r t h e b u i l d i n g s . T h e f l o o r s we r e c ove r e d by at l e a s t
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t h e r e. W h e r e eve r yo n e e l s e s aw f i l t h a n d h o r r o r, we s aw o n l y b e a u t y, c h a r a c te r a n d h i s t o r y ! T h r e e h u g e
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s t a n d i n g t h e r e! We c o u l d i m a g i n e t h e b a r r e l s a g i n g t h e r e. T h i s wa s a “ r u m c o m p o u n d ” o f a n ot h e r e r a , o f
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t h e p r o p e r t y f i r s t s a i d t h i s wa s “ t o t a l m a d n e s s”. T h at o p i n i o n c h a n g e d a s we m ove d f o r wa r d, a s we s t a r te d
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h a d b e e n s e l e c te d exc l u s i ve l y, s i n c e i t s o r i g i n f o r t h e p u r p o s e o f p r o d u c i n g r u m s . T h e l o c at i o n h a d b e e n
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a n d a g i n g o f r u m , b e i n g a s t h ey s t a n d, t h e l a r g e s t eve r- b u i l t i n P u e r t o R i c o’s we s t c o a s t r u m h i s t o r y.
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c o n g l o m e r ate i n t h e w o r l d, S e a g r a m a n d S o n s , Ltd., a n e m p i r e c r e ate d by t h e l ate S a m u e l B r o n f m a n.
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g et a h o l d o f i t s “ h e a r t a n d s o u l ” a n d s e c u r e d c l o s e t o 2 0 a c r e s o f l a n d w h e r e t h e a b a n d o n e d a g i n g
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m a r ket . T h e i r l a u n c h i n g p a d wa s t h i s p r o p e r t y. I t wa s h e r e t h at m a ny o f t h e i r r u m b r a n d s d e s t i n e d f o r t h e
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t o d o i t s m a g i c t h r o u g h t h e a g i n g p r o c e s s . W h e n ex a m i n i n g t h e r o o f, we d i s c ove r e d t h e b u i l d i n g s h a d s i xi n c h d e e p - wate r p o o l s t h r o u g h o u t t h e e nt i r e a r e a . T h i s wa s m a g n i f i c e nt a n d h a r d t o b e l i eve. T h e s e we r e
d e s i g n e d i n o r d e r f o r eva p o r a t i o n a n d h u m i d i t y t o c o n j u r e a n d w i t h t h e t r o p i c a l A nt i l l e a n te m p e r at u r e s ,
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m o s t i m p o r t a nt s te p i n t h e m a k i n g o f f i n e r u m s: “ i t s a g i n g ”. We b e l i eve t h i s t o b e u n - e q u a l e d a ny w h e r e i n
t h e wo r l d.
I t i s h e r e t h at R o n S u p e r i o r P u e r t o R i c o w i l l b e p r o d u c e d, r ev i v i n g t h e t r a d i t i o n s o f f i n e P u e r t o R i c a n r u m
m a k i n g.
I ’m s u r e t h e exc i te m e nt we f e e l a b o u t t h i s i s t r a n s p a r e nt , a p p a r e nt a n d c o nt a g i o u s . We wa nt t o s h a r e i t w i t h
and through this fine and unique Rum.
T h e f i r s t o f t h e s e b u i l d i n g s , a s m e nt i o n e d b ef o r e, w i l l b e o u r “ Te m p l e o f A g i n g ”. T h e s e c o n d b u i l d i n g w i l l
h o u s e o u r r e c t i f y i n g a n d f o r m u l a t i o n o f d i s t i l l ate s a n d r u m m a k i n g o p e r at i o n a n d l a b o r at o r i e s a n d w h e r e
o u r b ot t l i n g, c a p p i n g a n d l a b e l i n g w i l l t a ke p l a c e. T h i s b u i l d i n g w i l l a l s o h ave a s m a l l p r o m ot i o n a l s t o r e,
a t a s t i n g b a r a n d s m a l l h i s t o r i c h a l l o r m u s e u m o n t h e s u b j e c t o f r u m s f r o m o u r r e g i o n. We h ave ove r 10 0
h i s t o r i c r u m b ot t l e s a s a te s t a m e nt t o o u r p a s t , a n d i n s p i r at i o n t o o u r p r e s e nt a n d f u t u r e.
Q : Wo w, t h a t i s a m a z i n g . B u t n o t o n l y a r e t h e b u i l d i n g s u n i q u e l y e n g i n e e r e d t o b e a g i n g w a r e h o u s e s ,
yo u a r e a l s o g o i n g b eyo n d t h e s t r u c t u r e s a n d a r r a n g i n g t h e b a r r e l s i n S o l e r a s , w hy ?
T h at i s c o r r e c t . We a r e f i r m b e l i eve r s t h a t i n a f i n e u l t r a - p r e m i u m r u m , a s i s R o n S u p e r i o r, t h e a g i n g p r o c e s s ,
a n d h o w i t s a g e d, a r e c r i t i c a l f a c t o r s t o t h e ove r a l l exc e l l e n c e, q u a l i t y, c h a r a c te r i s t i c s a n d r ef i n e m e nt o f
the brand and product.
Fo r u s , r u m i s o n l y b o r n i n a b a r r e l, n o t f r o m a c o n d e n s e r, b e i t f r o m a p ot s t i l l o r a c o l u m n. J u s t b e c a u s e
i t ’s a d i s t i l l e d s p i r i t d e r i ve d f r o m a s u g a r c a n e p l a nt d o e s n ot a u t o m at i c a l l y m a ke i t r u m. Let m e p u t t h i s
b l u nt l y : a nyo n e, w i t h a l i t t l e k n o w l e d g e o f s c i e n c e c a n m a ke a l c o h o l. B u t i t i s o n l y w i t h p a s s i o n, p at i e n c e,
d e d i c a t i o n, g o o d t a s te a n d a g o o d d o s e o f l ove (a n d a g i n g i n b a r r e l s) t h at yo u m a ke a g r e at r u m. T h at i s
t h e o n l y way R o n S u p e r i o r P u e r t o R i c o i s m a d e. I t ’s t h i s c r i t i c a l d i f f e r e n c e i n “ b a r r e l s a n d a g i n g ” t h at m a ke
“ r u m s , r o n, r h u m a n d r o m o” w h a t t h ey a r e.
G o t Ru m ? S e p t e mb e r 2 0 1 5 - 3 9
I n t h e “ S p a n i s h A nt i l l e a n I s l a n d s” o r a s t h ey a r e we r e a l s o c a l l e d t h e “ S p a n i s h V i r g i n I s l a n d s” (m e a n i n g
D o m i n i c a n Re p u b l i c , P u e r t o R i c o a n d C u b a , a n d i n t h at o r d e r) i t h a s b e e n c l e a r l y d i s t i n g u i s h e d f o r h u n d r e d s
o f ye a r s a n d c o r r e c t l y u n d e r s t o o d t h a t “ p i t o r r o, a g u a r d i e nte, m a m p l e o r p i t r i c h e” i s j u s t a s u g a r c a n e d i s t i l l e d
s p i r i t (d i l u te d o r n o t w i t h wa te r o r w h a teve r, b e i t i l l e g a l o r l e g a l) b u t i t s NOT r u m. I n o r d e r f o r s u g a r c a n e
a l c o h o l o r w h at we k n o w a s “ a g u a r d i e nte” t o b e c o nve r te d i nt o r u m , i t n e e d s t o b e a g e d i n b a r r e l s . P u e r t o R i c o
r e q u i r e s i t by l aw. Pr o d u c i n g r u m , eve n m o r e s o a f i n e r u m , i s m u c h m o r e c o m p l i c ate d, t i m e c o n s u m i n g a n d
ex p e n s i ve t h a n s i m p l y g et t i n g s u g a r c a n e a l c o h o l i nt o b ot t l e s f r o m a p ot s t i l l o r c o l u m n. I t r e q u i r e s n ot o n l y
t h e a p p r o p r i ate r aw m a te r i a l (et hy l a l c o h o l) n e e d e d, b u t a g i n g i t i n b a r r e l s (a n a r t i n i t s o w n r i g ht), a n d t h e
t a l e nt , i m p e r at i ve a n d i m p e c c a b l e g o o d t a s te, m a s te r y a n d t h e p at i e n c e o f a r u m a r t i s t . H e n c ef o r t h, m a k i n g
f i n e r u m i s a n a r t . S c i e n c e a n d c h e m i s t r y a r e n e e d e d, b u t l ef t f a r b e h i n d.
T h i s i s w hy R o n S u p e r i o r i s n o t o n l y a g e d r u m b u t a S o l e r a r u m. I t i s o n l y t h r o u g h t h e s e i n d i s p e n s a b l e s t a g e s
o f a g i n g, b l e n d i n g , f o r m u l a t i o n, r e s t i n g a n d ox i d i z i n g, t h at a m a g i c a l t r a n s f o r m at i o n o c c u r s , i nt o w h at we, at
R o n S u p e r i o r, c o n s i d e r i s a f i n e u l t r a p r e m i u m r u m. Ro n S u p e r i o r w i l l h ave t h e f i r s t f u l l, s o l e S o l e r a a g i n g
wa r e h o u s e i n P u e r t o R i c o i n we l l ove r h a l f a c e nt u r y.
S o l e r a i s i nt r i n s i c t o o u r S p a n i s h A nt i l l e a n h e r i t a g e (f r o m t h e va l l ey s o f J e r e z “ s h e r r y ’s” ) a n d f i n e r u m m a k i n g
t r a d i t i o n s , a s t h o s e o f R o n S u p e r i o r P u e r t o R i c o. T h e S o l e r a c o n c e pt i s d i v i d e d i nt o t w o g e n e r a l c ate g o r i e s:
Got R um ? S e p temb e r 2 0 1 5 - 4 0
•
T h o s e w h o a g e i n a S o l e r a f o r m a t i o n c r e ate d by s t a c ks o f py r a m i d s a n d r o w s o f h o r i zo nt a l l y p l a c e d
b a r r e l s o n e ove r e a c h a n d;
•
T h o s e w h o, i n a d d i t i o n t o t h e S o l e r a f o r m at i o n, a g e u n d e r t h e S o l e r a p r o c e s s a n d m et h o d o l o g y a s we l l.
We a t R o n S u p e r i o r i n s i s t i n b o t h. S o l e r a , et y m o l o g i c a l l y c o m e s f r o m t h e L at i n w o r d “ s o l u m” m e a n i n g “ s u e l o”
o r g r o u n d, o r c l o s e s t t o t h e g r o u n d. I t i s a l way s a h o r i zo nt a l p l a n e. A ve r t i c a l l y p o s i t i o n e d b a r r e l f o r t h e
s a ke o f “ a g i n g ” i s a “ n o n o”, u n d e r a n a b s o l u te q u a l i t y c r i te r i a . T h i s i s u n a c c e pt a b l e t o u s .
T h e S o l e r a p r o c e s s h a s a c o nt i n u o u s m a t u r a t i o n l i ke n o ot h e r. I t c o n n e c t s p a s t a n d p r e s e nt i n eve r y b a r r e l,
g i v i n g t h e e l i x i r a g e d t h e r e i n a c o m p l ex i t y a n d u n i q u e n e s s t h at d ef i e s t i m e a n d s p a c e; a n eve r- e n d i n g
i m p r ove m e nt t o t h e o r g a n o l e pt i c q u a l i t y a n d c h a r a c te r i s t i c s o f t h e b r a n d.
A s yo u “ t a ke o u t ” f r o m t h e S o l e r a (g r o u n d o r l o we r b a r r e l) i t i s n eve r c o m p l ete l y e m pt i e d. I n a c a s c a d e
c o n c e pt i o n, t h i s b a r r e l i s r e p l e n i s h e d by t h e c o nte nt s o f t h e o n e a b ove, a n d s o f o r t h u nt i l t h e t o p b a r r e l
i s r e a c h e d a n d r ef i l l e d w i t h f r e s h et hy l a l c o h o l, w h i c h, a c c o r d i n g l y i s n eve r f u l l y e m pt i e d. T h i s i s f u r t h e r
e n h a n c e d w h e n t h e S o l e r a c o m p r e h e n d s m u l t i p l e py r a m i d s at d i f f e r e nt s t a g e s o f m at u r at i o n a n d i n p a r a l l e l
o n e t o e a c h ot h e r, t a i l o r e d i n h a r m o ny w i t h i n t h e s p e c t r u m a n d p r o f i l e o f t h e b r a n d. T h i s i s w h at Ro n
Superior Puer to Rico is all about.
I t i s o u r way o f m a k i n g r u m . I n a way i t i s t h e “c i r c l e o f l i f e” o f o u r r u m. A s we l i ke t o s ay “ G o d i s i n t h e
d et a i l s; t h e d ev i l, i n t h e l a c k o f t h e m”.
A l l t h e s e d et a i l s a r e w h a t m a ke o u r r u m s o ve r y u n i q u e a n d s p e c i a l; f e l t , va l u e d a n d e n j oye d i n eve r y s i p o f
R o n S u p e r i o r P u e r t o R i c o.
Q : Pu e r t o R i c a n r u m s h ave t r a d i t i o n a l l y h a d a ve r y l o w c o n g e n e r l eve l , i s Ro n S u p e r i o r f o l l o w i n g t h i s
t r e n d?
T h i s i s a g r e at q u e s t i o n a n d I ’m s o h a p py yo u a s k i t . N o. I t i s n ot . B u t l et m e g o b a c k a b i t , o n o u r r u m
b r a n d a n d h i s t o r y.
T h e r e a l i t y o f t h e f a c t i s , t h a t w h a t i s k n o w n t o d ay a s “ m a i n s t r e a m” P u e r t o R i c a n r u m s ( l o w c o n g e n e r), a r e a
f a r c r y f r o m w h at t h ey we r e u p t o i n t h e m i d 19 3 0 ’s , b e i n g u nt i l t h e n t h e m o s t f l o r a l, o r g a n o l e pt i c a p p e a l i n g
a n d s e n s o r i a l r u m s o f t h e A nt i l l e a n m i c r o c o s m o s .
P u e r t o R i c a n r u m s we r e b l e s s e d w i t h a n ex t r a o r d i n a r y h i s t o r y a n d c o m b i n at i o n o f t r a i t s , s o m e f r o m o u r
m ot h e r l a n d S p a i n a n d o t h e r s i nt r i n s i c a l l y A nt i l l e a n, a b l e n d t h at m a d e t h e m ex t r e m e l y s p e c i a l a n d exq u i s i te.
T h e p r e s s u r e b u i l t u p by c i r c u m s t a nt i a l eve nt s , t r e n d s , o u t s i d e i n f l u e n c e s , i nve s t m e nt s a n d e c o n o m i c i nte r e s t s
i n t h e I s l a n d, c o u p l e d t o t h e o p p o r t u n i t i e s o f t h e N o r t h A m e r i c a n m a r ket l u r e d n ot o n l y m o s t o f t h e l o c a l r u m
p r o d u c e r s b u t t h o s e b o u g ht o u t , t o b e c o m e a n d b e i n d u s t r i a l i ze d h i g h vo l u m e, l o w c o s t s u p p l i e r s o f “ m i x i n g
r u m s”. T h e t r e n d s t a r te d i n C u b a , t h r o u g h o u t p r o h i b i t i o n, a n d t h e w o r l d wa r s , a n d P u e r t o R i c o t h r o u g h
i t s t i e s w i t h t h e U n i te d S t a te s , c a u g ht u p s o o n e n o u g h a n d c a p i t a l i ze d o n t h e o p p o r t u n i t y a n d exc e l l e d,
b e c o m i n g a n i n d u s t r y s t a n d a r d a n d f o r c e t o b e r e c ko n e d w i t h, a s t h ey s t i l l a r e t o d ay, b e i n g t h e b e s t - s e l l i n g
“ l i g ht r u m s” (m e a n i n g l o w c o n g e n e r) i n t h e w o r l d. U n f o r t u n ate l y, t h i s “ r u m c ate g o r y ”, i n o r d e r t o f u l f i l l t h at
m a r ket , a b a n d o n e d a n d l ef t b e h i n d a l l o f t h e f i n e c h a r a c te r i s t i c s a n d q u a l i t i e s t h at m a d e t h e s e o l d S p a n i s h /
A nt i l l e a n P u e r t o R i c a n r u m s s o u n i q u e. I n ot h e r w o r d s , f o r t h e s e i n d u s t r i a l, h i g h vo l u m e p r o d u c t i o n r u m s
t h at b e c a m e k n o w n a s “ l i g ht r u m s”, t h e m o r e n e u t r a l, t h e l e s s a r o m a , t h e l e s s c o l o r e d, t h e l e s s f l avo r e d, t h e
b et te r.
R o n S u p e r i o r i s a c o m p l ete l y d i f f e r e nt P u e r t o R i c a n Ru m ex p e r i e n c e a l t o g et h e r. Ro n S u p e r i o r i s w h at a
t r u e P u e r t o R i c a n r u m wa s a l l a b o u t , a r u m a m o n g r u m s , t r u e t o i t s c h a r a c te r i s t i c s , h e r i t a g e a n d o l d s c h o o l
t r a d i t i o n s , p r o u d o f i t s C a r i b b e a n s u g a r c a n e o r i g i n. R o n S u p e r i o r w i l l b e a g a i n, a s i t o r i g i n a l l y wa s , a d a r k
r u m . T h i s i s w hy we s ay i t i s i n a c a te g o r y o f i t s o w n, s e p a r ate f r o m ot h e r “ l i g ht ” P u e r t o R i c o r u m s .
Fi r s t o f a l l, i t i s n o t , a n d w i l l n eve r b e, a n i n d u s t r i a l, h i g h vo l u m e p r o d u c t i o n r u m , b u t a c r a f te d a n d ve r y
s p e c i a l r u m ex p e r i e n c e. O u r r u m l o o ks , f e e l s , s m e l l s a n d t a s te s l i ke a n “o l d s c h o o l ” f u l l - b o d i e d r u m ,
because it is.
T h i s i s n ot a n ot h e r n e u t r a l P u e r t o R i c a n r u m t o b e m i xe d. I t ’s d a r k , m e d i u m b o d i e d a n d t o b e e n j oye d n e at
o r o n i c e a n d /o r w i t h a “ s p l a s h” o f yo u r f avo r i te s p a r k l i n g wate r, a s i t ’s m e a nt t o b e.
G o t Ru m ? S e p t e mb e r 2 0 1 5 - 4 1
A s a P u e r t o R i c a n r u m , i t ’s i n a c a te g o r y o f i t s o w n, b e i n g a s t ate m e nt t o i t s r o ot s a n d h e r i t a g e. I t s “ o l d
s c h o o l ” c h a r m a n d f a s c i n a t i o n i s d ete c t a b l e a n d d e l e c t a b l e i n eve r y d r o p, d u e t o a m et i c u l o u s f o c u s o n q u a l i t y,
u n - wave r i n g p a s s i o n a n d c a r e t o d et a i l s i n a l l s te p s o f i t s p r o c e s s .
H e n c ef o r t h, c o n g e n e r l eve l s a r e w h a t we c a l l i nte r m e d i ate; h i g h e n o u g h t o b r i n g o u t t h e a b s o l u te b e s t o f i t s
C a r i b b e a n s u g a r c a n e o r i g i n, b u t w i t h o u t t h e “ove r k i l l o r a b u s e” t h at w o u l d d i m i n i s h o r a n n i h i l ate t h e p l e a s u r e
o f i t s ove r w h e l m i n g s e n s o r i a l ex p e r i e n c e.
We a r e c o nv i n c e d R o n S u p e r i o r w i l l b e e n j oye d by r u m e nt h u s i a s t s , a s we l l a s W h i s k y l ove r s . I t i s a u n i q u e
a n d ve r y s p e c i a l r u m.
Q : Ro n S u p e r i o r d o e s n o t o p e r a t e a d i s t i l l e r y, r a t h e r i t p u r c h a s e s a l c o h o l s p r o d u c e d by s o m e o n e e l s e
a n d t h e n a g e s t h e m . W h a t a d va n t a g e s d o e s t h i s b u s i n e s s m o d e l g i ve yo u ove r s o m e o n e w h o f e r m e n t s
a n d d i s t i l l s t h e i r o w n r u m?
R o n e s S u p e r i o r e s d e P u e r t o R i c o i s a b o u t i q u e a n d s e l e c t r u m p r o d u c e r, d e d i c ate d exc l u s i ve l y t o t h e
e l a b o r at i o n o f t h i s f i n e C a r i b b e a n r u m , h o n o r i n g i t s t r a d i t i o n s , h e r i t a g e a n d h i s t o r y.
We h ave s t aye d t r u e t o t h e h i s t o r i c p r a c t i c e s o f Ro n S u p e r i o r P u e r t o R i c o, a s h ave d o n e ot h e r f i n e A nt i l l e a n /
C a r i b b e a n r u m s t h a t d o n o t g e n e r a te t h e r aw m ate r i a l f o r t h e e l a b o r at i o n o f t h e i r p r o d u c t s . T h i s h a s n ot b e e n
l i m i te d t o t h e p r o d u c t i o n o f et hy l a l c o h o l, a s s o m e p r o d u c e r s o r d i s t i l l e r s b u y t h e i r m o l a s s e s f r o m f a r away
c o u nt r i e s u n r e l ate d t o t h e p l a c e w h e r e t h e et hy l a l c o h o l w i l l b e m a d e. We c a n ke e p “ p u s h i n g b a c k ” (o r eve n
p u s h f o r wa r d) t h i s t o p i c t o w h e r e t h e s u g a r c a n e s we r e g r o w n o r w h e r e t h e i r s e e d s c a m e f r o m a n d s o o n, b u t
t h e i m p o r t a nt a n d f u n d a m e nt a l q u e s t i o n i s w h e r e a n d h o w t h e r u m i s m a d e. I s ay t h i s b e c a u s e m a k i n g r u m i s
n o t a n d w i l l n eve r b e t h e s a m e a s m a k i n g a l c o h o l.
R o n S u p e r i o r o n l y p r o d u c e d i t s o w n d i s t i l l a te s f r o m 19 0 9 t o 1911. R e c o g n i z i n g b a c k t h e n t h at m a k i n g a f i n e
r u m wa s m o r e i m p o r t a nt a n d t i m e c o n s u m i n g t h a n m a k i n g t h e b a s e a l c o h o l, i t wa s d e c i d e d t o c o n c e nt r ate a l l
ef f o r t s , t i m e a n d f o c u s exc l u s i ve l y “o n t h e a r t o f m a k i n g r u m”, b e c o m i n g t h e n, a s we a r e t o d ay, a s o l e a n d
exc l u s i ve r u m p r o d u c e r a n d n o t a b a s e a l c o h o l p r o d u c t i o n o p e r at i o n.
T h i s g i ve s u s a n d e n o r m o u s a d va nt a g e i n t h e q u a l i t y a n d s e l e c t i v i t y o f o u r b a s e et hy l a l c o h o l, w h i c h a r e i n n o
s h a p e, way o r f o r m c o n s i d e r e d t o b e r u m.
A s a l l g o o d a r t i s t s d o, we s e l e c t t h e b e s t r aw m ate r i a l s f o r o u r “ w o r k o f a r t ”. M i c h e l a n g e l o w o u l d s e l e c t t h e
b e s t C a r r a r a m a r b l e f o r i t s s c u l pt u r e s , a s we d o w i t h t h e et hy l a l c o h o l d i s t i l l ate s f o r o u r r u m; t h e a b s o l u te f i n e s t
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o u r C a r i b b e a n e nt o u r a g e p r o d u c e s; c o u p l e d w i t h o u r v i r g i n s u g a r c a n e j u i c e s f r o m P u e r t o R i c o, i m p o r t a nt i n
t h e f o r m u l at i o n o f o u r r u m.
Fe r m e nt i n g a n d d i s t i l l i n g i s a l o t o f f u n a n d we d o e n j oy i t . H o weve r, m a k i n g f i n e r u m s u c h a s Ro n S u p e r i o r
i s a f a r m o r e c o m p l ex a n d t i m e - c o n s u m i n g p r o c e s s t h a n t h at f o l l o we d t o p r o d u c e a g o o d d i s t i l l ate. I t ’s p u r e
passion and ar t.
I t i s i m p o r t a nt t o d i s t i n g u i s h t h e p r o c e s s o f p r o d u c i n g et hy l a l c o h o l, f r o m t h at o f t h e p r o d u c t i o n o f r u m . Eve n
t h o u g h o n e g e n e r ate s t h e r aw m a te r i a l a n d b a s e c o m p o n e nt f o r t h e ot h e r, i t , o n i t s o w n, i s n ot r u m . T h i s
f u n d a m e nt a l d i s t i n c t i o n m i g ht c o m e a s a s u r p r i s e t o a f ew, b u t i t h a s b e e n k n o w n a n d u n d e r s t o o d f o r h u n d r e d s
o f ye a r s i n a n d at t h e c r a d l e o f r u m , t h e C a r i b b e a n. T h e e l a b o r at i o n o f f i n e r u m t a ke s a c o n s i d e r a b l e a m o u nt
o f t i m e, a p p l i e d t r a d i t i o n s , p a s s i o n, g o o d t a s te a n d k n o w l e d g e i n o r d e r f o r a l l t h e s e e l e m e nt s t o d o t h e i r m a g i c
a n d i n a ve r y s p e c i a l way, t r a n s f o r m e d i nt o t h e “ w o r k o f a r t ”, t h at i s r u m. B e i n g a s we a r e, a u n i q u e a n d s o l e
r u m r e c t i f i e r, we s e e r u m a s a n a b s o l u te a r t i s t i c ex p r e s s i o n, w h i c h e nt a i l s i n i t s e l f t h e a r t o f a g i n g, r e s t i n g
a n d a p p r o p r i ate ox i d a t i o n. Ru m m a s te r s d e d i c ate d t o t h e u l t r a f i n e r u m p r e m i u m w o r l d k n o w t h e e n o r m o u s l y
b r o a d s p e c t r u m o f d i s t i l l a te s o u t t h e r e a n d t h e i r a m p l e a r r ay o f c h a r a c te r i s t i c s t h at s e l d o m , i f eve r at a l l, a r e
f o u n d o r p r o d u c e d w i t h s u c h va r i et y a n d d et a i l i n o n e s i n g l e p l a c e.
T h i s l eve l o f c h o i c e, s e l e c t i o n a n d s c r u t i ny ava i l a b l e t o u s i s v i r t u a l l y n o n - ex i s te nt t o a s i n g l e d i s t i l l e r, l e a s t
o f a l l t o t h o s e s u b j e c te d t o i n d u s t r i a l s et u p s d r i ve n by h i g h vo l u m e p r o d u c t i o n c yc l e s . T h i s o p e n a p p r o a c h
p r ov i d e s u s a n i n d e p e n d e nt , i m p a r t i a l b r o a d l o o k a n d s e l e c t i v i t y, w h i c h g u a r a nte e s we a r e u s i n g t h e b e s t
et hy l a l c o h o l i n o r d e r t o p r o d u c e t h e a b s o l u te b e s t r u m a n d r u m s . T h i s i s t h e e s s e n c e a n d v i s i o n o r o u r r u m
c o m p a ny a n d o p e r at i o n i n We s te r n P u e r t o R i c o. O n l y t h e b e s t f o r t h e b e s t .
We h ave s et u p o u r f a c i l i t i e s o n l y a n d exc l u s i ve l y w i t h t h e “ a r t o f m a k i n g r u m” i n m i n d. We i nv i te a l l t o c o m e
a n d v i s i t . O u r et hy l a l c o h o l h a s b e e n m a d e f o r u s u n d e r o u r s t r i c t r e q u i s i te s i n t h e C a r i b b e a n a n d f r o m
C a r i b b e a n /A nt i l l e a n g r o w n a n d h a r ve s te d s u g a r c a n e s .
T h i s i s o u r “c r e d o” a n d “ m o d u s o p e r a n d i ”, o f o u r S p a n i s h /A nt i l l e a n t r a d i t i o n s a n d h i s t o r y o f f i n e r u m m a k i n g
f o r a l l t o e n j oy o n c e a g a i n, t h r o u g h t h i s 10 6 ye a r o l d b r a n d s o o n t o b e “ b a c k i n t h e s t r e et ”.
Q : W h e n yo u c l o s e yo u r eye s a n d r e m e m b e r t h e l a s t s i p yo u h a d o f Ro n S u p e r i o r, w h a t a r e t h e key
a r o m a s o r f l avo r s t h a t c o m e t o m i n d?
T h e f u l l s p e c t r u m a n d e nt o u r a g e o f a r o m a s a n d f l avo r s I w i l l l e ave f o r e a c h t o d i s c ove r o n t h e i r o w n, a s t h i s i s
s o m et i m e s ve r y p a r t i c u l a r t o eve r y i n d i v i d u a l. I w i l l te l l yo u t h o u g h, t h at eve r y s i p o f R o n S u p e r i o r i s a “d é j à
v u ”, a d i s c ove r y o f p a s t a g e s i n t h e p r e s e nt m o m e nt , a g l o r i o u s s e n s e o f e l e g a n c e w i t h t h e ex u b e r a n c e a n d
p a s s i o n eve r y d r o p c o nvey s o f i t s u n q u e s t i o n a b l e h i s t o r i c C a r i b b e a n h e r i t a g e.
W h i l e u n c o r k i n g t h e b o t t l e, i t s s e d u c t i ve d a r k vo l u pt u o u s b o d y a n d s e n s u a l m ove m e nt s a r e a p p e a l i n g a n d
a p p a r e nt a s i t s s p i r i t s a n d exq u i s i te a r o m a s f r o m i t s s we et s u g a r c a n e o r i g i n e m b r a c e a n d s u r r o u n d yo u; yo u r
a m b i a n c e i s t r a n s f o r m e d; yo u r m o o d i s c a pt i vate d; a n o r g a n o l e pt i c e n c o u nte r s t a r t s t o t a ke p l a c e; a h o l i s t i c
s e n s o r i a l ex p e r i e n c e b e g i n s a s yo u, a n d eve r y d r o p, m e et f o r t h e ve r y f i r s t t i m e, a n d b e c o m e o n e.
I t ’s w h at we c a l l “ a S u p e r i o r m o m e nt ” !
Q : I t i s n o s e c r e t t h a t Pu e r t o R i c o i s g o i n g t h r o u g h ve r y d i f f i c u l t f i n a n c i a l t i m e s . T h e r e a r e a l s o a l o t
o f c o m p a n i e s w h o w a n t t h e E xc i s e C a r r yove r Pr o g r a m t o s t o p . W h a t a r e yo u r t h o u g h t s a b o u t t h e c a r r y
ove r p r o g r a m a n d a l s o a b o u t t h e i m p a c t Ro n S u p e r i o r w i l l h ave o n t h e I s l a n d ’s e c o n o my ?
Re g a r d i n g t h e f i r s t p a r t o f t h i s t h r e e t i e r q u e s t i o n: T h e I s l a n d o f P u e r t o R i c o i s g o i n g t h r o u g h i t s wo r s t
e c o n o m i c d o w nt u r n s i n c e i t s c h a n g e i n s ove r e i g nt y i n 18 9 8 (f r o m S p a i n t o t h e U n i te d S t ate s), a s a c o n s e q u e n c e
o f t h e s o c a l l e d “ S p a n i s h A m e r i c a n Wa r ” w h e r e t h e e nt i r e I s l a n d wa s d eva l u ate d by 6 0 % o n c u r r e n c y i s s u e s
a l o n e; a n d t h e ef f e c t s t h e G r e a t D e p r e s s i o n o f 19 2 9 h a d ove r P u e r t o R i c o. I t ’s i m p o r t a nt t o u n d e r s t a n d t h e
b a c kg r o u n d o f t h e c a r r y ove r p r o g r a m , t h a t d ate s b a c k t o t h e d ay s o f p r o h i b i t i o n b u t wa s n ot i m p l e m e nte d
u nt i l t h e m i d 19 3 0 ’s i n o r d e r t o c o m p e n s a te s o m e o f t h e c o n s e q u e n c e s a n d ef f e c t s m a ny p o l i c i e s i m p l e m e nte d
u p o n t h e I s l a n d h a d, a n d a s a n a i d t o i t s e c o n o my.
T h e I s l a n d h a s h a d a n d h a s a n u m b e r o f s o c i a l a n d e c o n o m i c i s s u e s , m a ny o f w h i c h a r e o f i t s o w n d o i n g.
H o weve r, i t i s i m p o r t a nt t o u n d e r s t a n d i t s r e l at i o n s h i p w i t h t h e U n i te d S t ate s , a s c o n c u r r e nt t o t h e d i r e
s i t u at i o n P u e r t o R i c o i s f a c e d w i t h t o d ay. T h e I s l a n d i s a c o l o n i a l te r r i t o r y o f t h e U n i te d S t ate s . I t wa s
c l a i m e d f r o m S p a i n a s a c o n d i t i o n t o t h e s i g n a g e o f t h e p e a c e t r e at y o n D e c e m b e r 10 t h, 18 9 8 .
G o t Ru m ? S e p t e mb e r 2 0 1 5 - 4 3
P u e r t o R i c o h a d b e e n g r a nte d a u t o n o my s h o r t l y b ef o r e t h e c h a n g e i n s ove r e i g nt y. Fr o m a n
a u t o n o m o u s s t a te, i t wa s s u b j e c te d t o a m i l i t a r y g ove r n m e nt . P u e r t o R i c o wa s s u b m i t te d t o t h e
exc l u s i ve m a n d a te, c o nt r o l a n d p o we r s o f C o n g r e s s (w h i c h h a s n ot c h a n g e d t o t h i s d ay). P u e r t o R i c o
h a s b e e n d ef i n e d t o h ave, u n d e r C o n g r e s s , a n d by l aw, a n “ u n i n c o r p o r ate d te r r i t o r i a l s t at u s”. A s l ate
a s 19 52 , i t wa s d i r e c te d t o d r a f t i t s o w n c o n s t i t u t i o n (u n d e r t h e d i r e c t i o n o f C o n g r e s s), t o b e a b l e
t o “ s e l f g ove r n” o n l y i t s i nte r n a l a f f a i r s , a s l o n g a s t h ey w o u l d n ot c o n f l i c t w i t h t h e d ete r m i n at i o n s
o f C o n g r e s s a n d t h e f e d e r a l l aw s a n d r e g u l at i o n s s o i m p o s e d. T h e r e a f te r, t h e r e l at i o n s h i p wa s t o
b e k n o w n a s t h a t o f a “c o m m o nwe a l t h” a n d t h e I s l a n d a s “ t h e C o m m o nwe a l t h o f P u e r t o R i c o” n a m e
i t s t i l l h a s a n d r e l a t i o n s h i p i t s t i l l h o l d s . A l l t h r o u g h o u t t h i s p e r i o d, w h i l e C o n g r e s s wa s d i r e c t i n g
t h e d e s t i ny o f t h e P h i l i p p i n e s t o wa r d s t h e i r eve nt u a l i n d e p e n d e n c e, a n d H awa i i t o wa r d s s t ate h o o d,
P u e r t o R i c o wa s ke pt a n d s u b j e c te d t o t h e “ u n i n c o r p o r ate d te r r i t o r i a l s t at u s” a s p a r t o f i t s e c o n o m i c ,
c o m m e r c i a l a n d m i l i t a r y v i s i o n o f t h e t i m e.
A s o f t o d ay, t h i s s t a t u s h a s n o t c h a n g e d. We c a n’ t f u l l y b l a m e C o n g r e s s , t o h ave i n s i s te d a n d l u r e d
t h e I s l a n d a n d i t s p e o p l e t o s t ay u n d e r i t s p o we r s a n d p r e s e nt s t at u s q u o, a s P u e r t o R i c o wa s , a n d
s t i l l i s , t h e m o s t b e a u t i f u l i s l a n d, i n a s t r ate g i c A nt i l l e a n l o c at i o n w i t h b e a u t i f u l a n d c o m p a s s i o n ate
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I s l a n d f o r h u n d r e d s o f ye a r s (t o g et h e r w i t h a f u l l a r r ay o f t r o p i c a l c r o p s), wa s b a s i c a l l y s i n g l e d o u t ,
f avo r e d a n d f o r c e d u p o n t h e I s l a n d a t a l eve l o f c o n c e nt r at i o n a n d c o n s o l i d at i o n, t h at i n a l i t t l e m o r e
t h a n a d e c a d e, m a ny o f t h e s u g a r m i l l s a n d d o m e s t i c p l a nt at i o n f i e l d s h a d b e c o m e t h e p r o p e r t y o f
a b s e nt A m e r i c a n c o nt r o l l e d “ i nve s t m e nt s”. B y t h e e n d o f t h e 19 3 0 ’s , d u e t o c h a n g e s i n t h e s u g a r
m a r ket , P u e r t o R i c o h a d l o s t m o s t o f i t s l u s te r a s a l o w c o s t s u g a r p r o d u c e r f o r t h e A m e r i c a n m a r ket
(a s s u g a r b e et a n d c o r n sy r u p h a d b e c o m e c h e a p e r o pt i o n s), C o n g r e s s t h e n e n c o u r a g e d t h e I s l a n d
p o l i c i e s a n d d i r e c t i ve s t o wa r d s a n i n d u s t r i a l i z at i o n m o d e l, a s a m a s s i ve m i g r at i o n o f p u e r t o r r i c a n s
we r e m ov i n g t o t h e m a i n l a n d t o l o o k f o r w o r k . T h e n ew v i s i o n wa s t o s t a r t m ov i n g a n d e n g a g i n g
A m e r i c a n i n d u s t r i a l c o n g l o m e r a te s a n d c o m p a n i e s t o t a ke a d va nt a g e o f P u e r t o R i c o’s te r r i t o r i a l /
Got R um ? S e p temb e r 2 0 1 5 - 4 4
p o s s e s s i o n s t at u s , i t s l o c a t i o n, l o w l a b o r c o s t s a n d t h e US d o l l a r a n d o p e n o p e r at i o n s i n t h e I s l a n d.
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o w n e d b u s i n e s s e s a n d m a i n l y a g r i c u l t u r a l e c o n o my, i nt o w h at ye a r s l ate r wa s t o b e c o m e a c h e m i c a l,
p h a r m a c e u t i c a l i n d u s t r i a l c o m p l ex a n d p o we r h o u s e o f m u l t i n at i o n a l s .
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i n c e nt i ve s a n d l aw s by c o n g r e s s i o n a l w r i t s s u c h a s S e c t i o n 9 3 6 o f t h e I nte r n a l Reve n u e C o d e
f o r t a x f r e e i n c o m e o f m u l t i n a t i o n a l s . P u e r t o R i c o h a d b e e n d i r e c te d a n d c o nve r te d, u n d e r t h e s e
s p e c i a l l aw s , i nt o a “ t a x h e ave n” f o r t h e n at i o n’s m o s t p o we r f u l m u l t i n at i o n a l c o r p o r at i o n s . T h e
c o r p o r ate b e n ef i t s h a n d e d d o w n t o c o m p a n i e s m ov i n g t o P u e r t o R i c o l u r e d a n d b l i n d e d t h e l o c a l
g ove r n m e nt w i t h t h e i m m e d i a te “ j o b o f f e r i n g s” a n d “ i n d u s t r i a l g r o w t h” t h i s wa s t o h ave i n a n d f o r t h e
I s l a n d (s o m et h i n g t h a t s o u n d s a l l t o o f a m i l i a r t o d ay). T h i s wa s t o c r e ate j o b s , a s i t d i d, h u n d r e d s
i f n ot t h o u s a n d s , o f b l u e c o l l a r e m p l oy m e nt s a n d a c o n s i d e r a b l e n u m b e r o f l o c a l “ m a n a g e m e nt
p o s i t i o n s” b u t o n l y t o i m p l e m e nt a n d exe c u te t h e d e s i r e s , s t r ate g i e s a n d f o l l o w t h e o r d e r s i m p a r te d
by a b s e nt h i g h l eve l exe c u t i ve s , C EO ’s a n d b o a r d s o f d i r e c t o r s , f o r t h e b e n ef i t s a n d p r o f i t s o f
a b s e nt s h a r e h o l d e r s . T h e o n c e m u l t i - s e c t o r a l a g r a r i a n e c o n o my h a d va n i s h e d, a s t h e f o r e i g n t a x
f r e e p h a r m a c e u t i c a l a n d c h e m i c a l i n d u s t r i a l a p p a r at u s p ave d t h e way. A c c o r d i n g l y, l o c a l p r o d u c t i o n
o f g o o d s b a s i c a l l y d i s a p p e a r e d by t h e m a s s i ve i n f l u x o f i m p o r t s f r o m a b r o a d, l e av i n g t h e s m a l l a n d
m i d d l e s i ze d l o c a l l y o w n e d b u s i n e s s e s i n c o m p l ete d i s a r r ay. P u e r t o R i c o h a d b e c o m e, i n a m at te r
o f ye a r s , o n e o f t h e te n l a r g e s t c o n s u m e r m a r ket s o f i m p o r te d “A m e r i c a n m a d e” g o o d s o f t h e N at i o n.
S o c i o l o g i c a l l y, i t b e c a m e b et te r a n d m o r e p r o f i t a b l e i n P u e r t o R i c o t o b e a n e m p l oye e o f a m u l t i n a t i o n a l
f o r e i g n c o r p o r a t i o n, d o i n g b u s i n e s s i n t h e I s l a n d, t h a n e n g a g e i n t h e s t r u g g l e s o f b e c o m i n g a l o c a l
e nt r e p r e n e u r o r b e c o m e a l o c a l b u s i n e s s o w n e r. N o n e o f t h o s e US m u l t i n at i o n a l s p a i d t a xe s i n
P u e r t o R i c o, n o r t o t h e U n i te d S t a te s o r t h e IRS . T h ey s t i l l d o n’ t . O n t h e ot h e r h a n d, n o n e o f t h e
l o c a l b u s i n e s s e s h a d a ny o f t h e b e n ef i t s o r t a x i n c e nt i ve s t h e m u l t i n at i o n a l s h a d. T h ey s t i l l d o n’ t .
B y t h e m i d 19 9 0 ’s C o n g r e s s c h a n g e d i t s v i ew o n w h at t h e s e b e n ef i t s i m p l i e d t o t h e U n i te d S t ate s a n d
t h e IRS , l a b e l i n g t h e m “c o r p o r a te we l f a r e”. C o n g r e s s n o w wa nte d t h e c o r p o r at i o n s i t h a d d i r e c te d t o
P u e r t o R i c o, t o s t a r t p ay i n g t h e i r d u e s . H e n c ef o r t h, i t r e p e l l e d t h e l aw w h i c h p r ov i d e d t h e t a x b r e a ks
u n d e r t h e c o d e a n d e s t a b l i s h e d a p h a s e o u t p e r i o d. T h e i n d u s t r i a l i z at i o n m o d e l a n d p l a n C o n g r e s s
h a d f avo r e d f o r d e c a d e s “ t o h e l p t h e I s l a n d ” n o w h a d t h e u n i nte n d e d c o n s e q u e n c e s o f i m p l o d i n g,
o n c e a g a i n, t h e e c o n o m i c m o d e l a n d b a s i s o n w h i c h P u e r t o R i c o h a d b e e n r u n n i n g, w i t h o u t r e a c h i n g
t h e p r o p o s e d o b j e c t i ve o f t a x i n g t h e r et a i n e d e a r n i n g s o f t h e m u l t i n at i o n a l s . T h e s e h i r e d a r m i e s o f
a c c o u nt a nt s t o m ove “o f f s h o r e” t h e i r a c c u m u l ate d p r o f i t s a n d t h e n m ove d a s we l l t h e i r o p e r a t i o n s
o u t o f P u e r t o R i c o, w i t h o u t r e p a t r i a t i n g t h e i r a c c u m u l ate d p r o f i t s , a s i t i s s t i l l t h e c a s e t o d ay.
To p u t t h i n g s i n p e r s p e c t i ve: P u e r t o R i c o, i f c o m p a r e d t o a ny s t ate, i s p o o r e r t h a n t h e p o o r e s t s t ate
i n t h e N at i o n, t h a t o f M i s s i s s i p p i, by t w i c e i t s p ove r t y l eve l. U n e m p l oy m e nt i n P u e r t o R i c o i s t h r e e
t i m e s t h at o f t h e N a t i o n, a n d f o r g r a d u a te s t u d e nt s a n d t h o s e l o o k i n g f o r w o r k u n d e r 2 5 ye a r s o f a g e,
t h i s s t a g g e r i n g f i g u r e i s ove r 5 0 % .
T h e I s l a n d ’s l o s s o f p o p u l a t i o n i n t h e l a s t f ew ye a r s by t h o s e s t r u g g l i n g t o m a ke a l i v i n g h a s b e e n
r e p u te d t o b e at a r a te o f 1, 0 0 0 f a m i l i e s a m o nt h. P u e r t o R i c o h a s s u f f e r e d a p o p u l at i o n l o s s o f t a l e nt
a n d yo u t h e s t i m a te d a t ove r 5 0 0,0 0 0. D u e t o t h e n u m b e r s o f m i s g u i d e d o u t s i d e i nte r ve nt i o n s a n d
i r r e s p o n s i b l e g e n e r a l i z a t i o n s o f e c o n o m i c t h e o r i e s i m p o s e d u p o n t h e I s l a n d, i n a b s o l u te i r r e l eva n c e
t o i t s r e a l i t y, c o u p l e d t o a n u m b e r o f c o u nte r p r o d u c t i ve c o nt r a c t i o n m e a s u r e s i m p l e m e nte d by t h e
l o c a l g ove r n m e nt , i n t o t a l d i s r e g a r d t o t h e o bv i o u s d eva s t at i n g ef f e c t s t h e s e w o u l d h ave (c a u s i n g
t h o u s a n d s o f l ayo f f s a n d i m p o s i n g , a t t h e p e a k o f t h e g r e at r e c e s s i o n, p r o p e r t y t a x i n c r e a s e s by o n e
a n d a h a l f t i m e s o n a l l r e s i d e nt s), c a u s e d t h e e c o n o my a s a w h o l e t o t a n k , a g g r avate a n d a c c e l e r ate
i t s c o nt r a c t i o n a n d f r e ef a l l; a l l o f w h i c h d e s t r oye d t h e I s l a n d ’s h o m e l a n d va l u e s , i t s r e a l e s t ate
m a r ket , p u t t i n g i t u p f o r g r a b s t o o u t s i d e vo u c h e r f u n d s a n d p r e d at o r y i nve s t m e nt g r o u p s , u n d e r t h e
p at r o n a g e a n d s t i m u l u s o f t h e l o c a l g ove r n m e nt , w h i c h t o t h i s d ate c o nt i n u e s t o c o n f u s e “ i nve s t m e nt s”
w i t h “ o u t r i g ht t a ke ove r s” a n d t h e l o s s o f l o c a l o w n e r s h i p ove r o u r i s l a n d ’s p at r i m o ny : i t s b u s i n e s s e s ,
g o o d w i l l, p r o p e r t i e s a n d l a n d. T h e c o nve r g e n c e r at i o o f P u e r t o R i c o’s s h r i n k i n g e c o n o my t o p u b l i c
d e bt l o a d, d o w n g r a d e d t o “ j u n k s t a t u s”, h a s b e c o m e a n i g ht m a r e; eve n m o r e s o w h e n C o n g r e s s , h a s
c a s t r ate d t h e I s l a n d, f o r n o o t h e r r e a s o n t h a n i t s c o l o n i a l s t at u r e, s t r i p p i n g i t , at w i l l, f r o m a ny a b i l i t y
t o r e s t r u c t u r e i t s d e bt s , a s c a n a ny p e r s o n, c i t y, m u n i c i p a l i t y o r s t ate d o, a n d a s a ny ot h e r r e l ate d o r
u n r e l ate d j u r i s d i c t i o n c a n i n t h e w o r l d, by t h e r i g ht t o d r a f t t h e i r o w n a p p r o p r i ate l aw s . P u e r t o R i c o
h a s b e e n o u t c a s te d f r o m a ny s u c h r i g ht s by C o n g r e s s . O n t h e ot h e r h a n d, we c o u l d a l s o g o o n a n d
G o t Ru m ? S e p t e mb e r 2 0 1 5 - 4 5
o n, a n d s e e ot h e r ex a m p l e s o n h o w P u e r t o
R i c o h a s a l s o b e n ef i te d i n s o m a ny way s
t h r o u g h o u t t h e ye a r s , b u t a t w h a t p r i c e.
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wa s , a n d i s , o n e o f t h o s e t o o l s t h a t h ave
h e l p e d P u e r t o R i c o. I t h a s a s s i s te d t h e
I s l a n d ’s t r e a s u r y t h r o u g h o u t t h e ye a r s .
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o f t h e f ew s t r u c t u r e d p i l l a r s i t c a n h o l d
o n t o. I t h a s h e l p e d, a n d h e l p s , f u n d t h e
I s l a n d ’s s c h o o l s , h o s p i t a l s , r o a d s , p u b l i c
s e r v i c e s a n d i n f r a s t r u c t u r e; a n d i n a way,
w i t h a l l p r o b a b i l i t y, a l o c a l p r o d u c t , t h a t
m o s t l i ke l y wo u l d h ave d i s a p p e a r e d (a s
b a s i c a l l y a l l t h e r e s t), i f n o t f o r i t , m e a n i n g
t h e r u m s . Ye s , we f u l l y s u p p o r t t h e c a r r y
ove r p r o g r a m .
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our business model at Rones Superiores
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o r f o r m , t o a ny r e b a te s o r c a r r y ove r
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r u m m a k i n g at i t s b e s t . H o weve r, o u r
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r e p r e s e nt s , u n d e r o u r s t r i c t , c l a s s i c r u m
m a k i n g c r i te r i a , c a n b e, f o r t h e r u m s o f
t h e C a r i b b e a n b a s i n, t h e “ f o u n d l i n k ” t o a
c h a i n o f eve nt s , f o r t h e b e n ef i t o f a l l. We
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f o r o u r Tr a n s C a r i b b e a n a n d A m e r i c a n
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b eyo n d h o w i t h a s b e e n v i ewe d t o d a te.
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a l l o f yo u r r e a d e r s t o c o m e t o o u r I s l a n d,
v i s i t a n d s e e w h a t we a r e a l l a b o u t .
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resurgence of the traditions of fine
p u e r t o r r i c a n r u m m a k i n g i n t h e we s te r n
r e g i o n o f P u e r t o R i c o, a s i t wa s a t t h e b e g i n n i n g o f t h e l a s t c e nt u r y. S e c o n d l y, t h e r e a l i z at i o n a n d
r e d i s c ove r y by P u e r t o R i c o a n d t h e w o r l d, o f t h i s o r g a n o l e pt i c a n d e nt i c i n g r u m , t h at l i ke ye s te r d ay, w i l l
b e a g a i n, e m b l e m a t i c o f o u r I s l a n d s b e s t , a n d ev i d e n c e o f w h at a t r u e c l a s s i c “ u l t r a - p r e m i u m” r u m i s a l l
a b o u t . T h i r d l y, a s a c o m p a ny s t r i c t l y d e d i c ate d t o t h e e l a b o r at i o n o f f i n e u l t r a - p r e m i u m r u m s , we s e e k
t o r e s c u e t h e p o s i t i o n ( i n a c a te g o r y o f i t s o w n), a s a p u e r t o r r i c a n r u m , s e p a r ate f r o m t h o s e we l l k n o w n
a s “ l i g ht r u m s”, a s a d i r e c t c o n s e q u e n c e o f i t p r o c e s s , c h a r a c te r i s t i c s a n d a g i n g; t h u s p r o l i f e r at i n g i nt o
i t s d eve l o p m e nt , p r o f i t a b i l i t y a n d g r o w t h.
T h i s , i n t u r n b e n ef i t s t h e I s l a n d a n d t h e we s te r n r e g i o n o f P u e r t o R i c o. I t h a s b e e n a n i n s p i r at i o n a n d
m ot i vat i o n t o m a ny, r e s c u i n g t h i s a t t r a c t i ve p l a c e t o v i s i t , l e a r n a b o u t r u m s a n d e n j oy, w i t h i t s h i s t o r i c
Got R um ? S e p temb e r 2 0 1 5 - 4 6
“ r u m h a l l ” o r s m a l l m u s e u m a n d s u r r o u n d i n g a r e a s , a n d t h e h o u s e o f t h i s f i n e “ u l t r a - p r e m i u m”
p u e r t o r r i c a n r u m. T h i s , i n i t s e l f, w i l l h ave a p o s i t i ve ef f e c t i n t h e a r e a , e c o n o m i c a n d ot h e r w i s e.
A b ove a l l i t w i l l h ave a h u g e i m p a c t o n t h e s e l f - e s te e m , p syc h e a n d v i s i o n o f a l l t h o s e w h o l i ve i n
P u e r t o R i c o, ve r y p a r t i c u l a r l y f o r t h o s e w h o l i ve o n t h e we s t c o a s t o f t h e I s l a n d.
R o n S u p e r i o r P u e r t o R i c o r e m i n d s u s o f o u r r o ot s , o u r a g r i c u l t u r e, o u r h i s t o r y a n d o u r h e r i t a g e.
T h e r e a r e s o m a ny t h i n g s we c a n a l l d o, a n d d o we l l, w i t h c o nv i c t i o n, c o m m i t m e nt a n d c o n f i d e n c e.
T h i s r e l a u n c h f i l l s w i t h p r i d e eve r y h a r d w o r k i n g p e r s o n; m o r e s o t h e v i s i o n a r i e s , w h o k n o w a n d
u n d e r s t a n d t h e ef f o r t i t t a ke s a n d a l l t h e d i f f i c u l t i e s i t i m p l i e s , m o r e s o u n d e r o u r I s l a n d s p r e s e nt
m o m e nt ; b u t o n l y t h u s , w i l l P u e r t o R i c o r i s e a g a i n, b e k n o w n, r e c o g n i ze d a n d r e s p e c te d, by i d e a s ,
d r e a m s , p r o j e c t s a n d t h e r e s u l t s t h ey e nt a i l. Ro n S u p e r i o r P u e r t o R i c o i s a p r o d u c t o f exc e l l e n c e,
t r a d i t i o n a n d h i s t o r i c a l r o o t s; m a d e i n P u e r t o R i c o, a s i t c o u l d o n l y b e d o n e h e r e. W i t h p a s s i o n, g o o d
t a s te, c o m m i t m e nt a n d l ove.
Q : W h e n c a n o u r r e a d e r s ex p e c t t o b e a b l e t o p u r c h a s e t h e i r f i r s t b o t t l e o f Ro n S u p e r i o r
Pu e r t o R i c o?
We a r e o n t h e f i n a l s t r etc h o f f i n i s h i n g t h e r e h a b i l i t at i o n o f o u r f a c i l i t i e s t h at h a d b e e n a b a n d o n e d f o r
n e a r l y 4 d e c a d e s . I t i s o bv i o u s l y a n i nte n s e l a b o r o f l ove t h at h a s a l ot t o d o w i t h t h e r u m a n d h i s t o r y
i n t h e r e g i o n. T h e f i r s t b o t t l e o f R o n S u p e r i o r s h o u l d b e ava i l a b l e f o r s a l e i n t h e n ex t 6 m o nt h s . T h e
f i r s t “ b atc h o r h a r ve s t ”, i f we c o u l d c a l l i t t h at , w i l l b e l i m i te d a n d s e l e c t . R o n e s S u p e r i o r e s d e P u e r t o
R i c o i s a “ b o u t i q u e” r u m c r a f t i n g o p e r a t i o n, d e d i c ate d exc l u s i ve l y t o t h e p r o d u c t i o n a n d e l a b o r at i o n
o f t h i s f i n e r u m by g r a n d r u m m a s te r s . A g r a n d r u m t a ke s i t s d u e t i m e a n d p r o c e s s . T h e r e i s n o ot h e r
way t o c r e ate a f i n e r u m , a t t h i s l eve l o f c o m m i t m e nt , exc e l l e n c e a n d q u a l i t y, ot h e r t h a n t h i s . D u r i n g
t h e n ex t 6 0 d ay s we p l a n t o s t a r t a n u m b e r o f p r i vate a n d p u b l i c t a s t i n g s a n d ot h e r p r e s e nt at i o n s
o f o u r r u m , n ot w i t h t h e p u r p o s e o f s a l e, b u t t o ex p o s e a n d i nt r o d u c e t h i s i c o n i c , h i s t o r i c a l a n d f i n e
p u e r t o r r i c a n r u m w h i c h we a r e c o n f i d e nt w i l l b e we l c o m e d, we l l r e c e i ve d a n d e n j oye d.
I t s i m p a c t o n t h e I s l a n d, eve n a t t h i s s t a g e, i s a l r e a d y b e i n g f e l t i n t h e m a r ket . We a i m t o c ate r
a n d at t r a c t n ot j u s t t h e r o m a nt i c s a n d l ove r s o f r u m , b u t t h o s e w h o l ove w h i s key s , b r a n d i e s a n d
f i n e s p i r i t s , b e i n g c o nv i n c e d t h a t t h o s e w h o t a s te i t , w i l l d i s c ove r a n ew c a pt i vat i n g a n d s e n s o r i a l
ex p e r i e n c e t h r o u g h i t s u n i q u e n e s s . Yo u’l l l ove i t .
Q : I f p e o p l e w a n t t o c o n t a c t yo u , h o w m ay t h ey r e a c h yo u?
T h ey c a n r e a c h m e a t f. s t i p e s @ g m a i l.c o m o r R o n e s S u p e r i o r e s d p r @ h ot m a i l.c o m.
v i s i t o u r we b s i te, w w w. r o n s u p e r i o r.c o m; a n d o n Fa c e b o o k a s R o n S u p e r i o r.
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E xe c u t i ve O f f i c e s:
Ru m C o m p a ny : M a i l i n g A d d r e s s:
L o s G a r a j e s R o a d 114, K m 4. 8
P.O. B ox 2 0 4 5
C e r r o L a s M e s a s C a b o R o j o P u e r t o R i c oM aya g u e z, P u e r t o R i c o
R o a d 3 4 9, K m1. 8 0 0 6 81
M aya g u e z, P u e r t o R i c o
Q : I s t h e r e a ny t h i n g e l s e yo u w o u l d l i ke t o s h a r e w i t h o u r r e a d e r s?
T h i s i s a m a g a z i n e r e a d by r u m l ove r s a l l ove r t h e w o r l d. We h o p e t h at o u r p a s s i o n f o r r u m i s f e l t ,
s h a r e d a n d c o nveye d t h r o u g h t h i s i nte r v i ew. I f a ny o f yo u r r e a d e r s eve r v i s i t s o u r I s l a n d, we wo u l d
l ove f o r t h e m t o c o m e by a n d s e e u s . We ex p e c t t o h ave o u r f a c i l i t i e s o p e n t o t h e p u b l i c c e r t a i n
d ay s d u r i n g t h e we e k , s o t h a t p e o p l e f r o m a l l ove r c a n c o m e a n d e m b r a c e t h e t r u e s p i r i t o f t h i s f i n e
r u m w i t h u s . We w o u l d l ove t o s h a r e o u r ex p e r i e n c e s , v i s i o n a n d, o f c o u r s e, o u r r u m.
O n c e a g a i n, t h a n k yo u f o r g r a nt i n g u s t h i s i nte r v i ew.
C h e e r s! / S a l u d!
G o t Ru m ? S e p t e mb e r 2 0 1 5 - 4 7
5th Festival
Caribbean
Rum & Beer
6 -7 November 2015
St. Maarten
The Best Rum & Beer from the
Caribbean & Beyond to Sample
and Buy
The 2015 CAB Taste Contest
Rum & Beer Master Classses with
Industry Experts
A Rum Cocktail Bartender Competition
Cooking with Rum & Beer Demos
Live Caribbean Music (Steel Pan &
Guest Artistes)
Authentic Caribbean Food
Rum Cakes & much more
Advance Tickets
only
$25
Got R um
? S e p temb e r 2 0 1 5 -
www.rumandbeerfestival.com
48
Caribbean
Rum & Beer Festival
Guests
get to save at least US$600
on a 3 night stay at the
4 Star All-Inclusive
Sonesta Maho
Beach Resort & Casino
in St Maarten
G o t Ru m ?
TM
“ I have t aken m o re out of alc o h o l
t han alc o h o l has t aken out of me.”
S i r W i ns t o n C hu r c h i l l
G o t Ru m ? S e p t e mb e r 2 0 1 5 - 4 9
Got R um ? S e p temb e r 2 0 1 5 - 5 0
G o t Ru m ? S e p t e mb e r 2 0 1 5 - 5 1
C I GA R & R UbyMPhi liPA
I R I NG
p I li B a r ake
Manhattan, Why Not?
2015
M
y n a m e i s P h i l i p I l i B a r a ke, S o m m e l i e r
by t r a d e.
As a result of working with
s e l e c te d r e s t a u r a nt s a n d w i n e p r o d u c e r s
i n C h i l e, I s t a r te d d eve l o p i n g a p a s s i o n f o r
d i s t i l l e d s p i r i t s a n d c i g a r s . A s p a r t o f my m o s t
r e c e nt j o b, I h a d t h e o p p o r t u n i t y t o v i s i t m a ny
C e nt r a l A m e r i c a n c o u nt r i e s , a s we l l a s , r u m
d i s t i l l e r i e s a n d t o b a c c o g r o we r s .
B u t my p a s s i o n f o r s p i r i t s a n d c i g a r s d i d
n ot e n d t h e r e; i n 2 010 I h a d t h e h o n o r o f
r e p r e s e nt i n g C h i l e a t t h e I nte r n a t i o n a l C i g a r
S o m m e l i e r C o m p et i t i o n, w h e r e I wo n f i r s t
p l a c e, b e c o m i n g t h e f i r s t S o u t h A m e r i c a n t o
eve r a c h i eve t h a t f e a t .
Now I face the challenge of impressing the
r e a d e r s o f “ G o t Ru m? ” w i t h w h a t i s p e r h a p s
the toughest task for a Sommelier: discussing
p a i r i n g s w h i l e b e i n g we l l awa r e t h a t t h e r e a r e
a s m a ny i n d i v i d u a l p r ef e r e n c e s a s t h e r e a r e
r u m s a n d c i g a r s i n t h e w o r l d.
I b e l i eve a p a i r i n g i s a n ex p e r i e n c e t h at
s h o u l d n o t b e l i m i te d t o o n l y t w o p r o d u c t s; i t
i s s o m et h i n g t h a t c a n b e i n c o r p o r a te d i nt o o u r
l i ve s . I h o p e t o h e l p o u r r e a d e r s d i s c ove r a n d
a p p r e c i ate t h e p l e a s u r e o f t r y i n g n ew t h i n g s
(o r ex p e r i e n c i n g k n o w n t h i n g s i n n ew way s).
Got Rum
R um ? S
Jaepte
enputemb
amber
ry 2015
e r 2015
2 0 1- 5 52
- 52
52
I
’ve live d t hrough yet anot her
c o mp lic ate d m o nt h, w it h r ains, no
o ne to sm o ke w it h and no p lac e to
sm o ke al o ne w hen I was fe e ling like it .
I was c r av ing a M anhat t an and t h ought ,
w hy not ? S o I st ar te d l o o k ing fo r a
r um t hat c ould rep lac e a R ye W hiskey
in t he t r adit i o nal re c ip e, al o ngsi de
w it h Ver m out h. T he s o lut i o n was easy
to f ind, I ne e de d a r um w it h a hi gh
c o ng ener leve l, even w it h s o m e f use l
o ils to give it an ex t r a k ic k (may not
b e app ealing to ever yo ne, but t hat ’s
w hat t his re c ip e wo r ks b e st w it h). S o
I se le c te d A ng o stur a 1919 (8 year o l d)
f ro m A ng o stur a, in Tr ini dad & To bag o.
T his r um met all t he re quirem ent s I
had out line d.
Let ’s t alk a bit now ab out t he Ver m out h.
T he c las sic re c ip e c alls fo r Ver m out h
Ro s s o, but re gardle s s of t he Ver m out h
you end up using, you must al ways ke ep
it c o l d, s o it st ays in g o o d c o ndit i o n
fo r a l o ng er p er i o d of t ime. Rem emb er
t hat Ver m out h is made f ro m w ine, s o
you have to b e c aref ul w it h ox i dat i o n.
M ov ing o n to t he glas sware, I se le c te d
a c las sic M ar t ini glas s w it h a 3 oz.
c apac it y, sinc e I was g o ing to adjust
t he vo lume s use d in t he re c ip e to f it
into t his size glas s. Re gardle s s of your
c h o ic e of glas sware, it is imp o r t ant
to keep it c hille d, so you do n’t c ause a
“sho c k ” to your ingre di ent s w it h a sudden
c hang e in temp er ature.
T he Rum M anhat t an Re c ip e is as fo ll ows:
•
2 ½ oz. A ng o stur a Rum 1919
•
½ oz. Ver m out h Ro s so, M ar t ini
•
2 to 3 dro ps of A ng o stur a O r ang e
B it ter s
A nd fo r de c o r at i o n, mandar in o r ange
p eel.
A s you c an se e, t he re c ip e is exc e e dingly
simple, it c an b e prepare d shaken o r
st ir re d, b ot h of t he se approac he s are
p er fe c t ly O K fo r amateur s to under t ake.
Got Rum?
TM
G o t Ru m ? S e p t e mb e r 2 0 1 5 - 5 3
H aving de c i de d o n t he c o c k t ail, it was
t im e to wo r k o n t he remaining 5 0% of
t he pair ing: t he c i gar. I o nc e again
o pte d fo r t he Camac ho line, t his t ime
I sel e c te d a Ro busto (5” x 5 0) BG
M eyer St andard Is sue. O t her c i gar s in
t his lineup inc lude Churc hill, C o ro na,
B elic o so, G o rdo and To ro, s o you
shoul d be able to c h o o se t he o ne t hat
be st suit s your p referenc e s.
T he se c i gar s are par t of o ne of
Camac h o’s m o der n lineups envisi o ne d
by t he “ B oard of t he B o l d,” an all - st ar
gr oup of t he br and dire c to r s, inc luding
p er so nalit i e s suc h as M ike D it ka, M at t
B o ot h and t he p er so n behind BG M eyer
C o mpany, Ro b Weis s. T he inner bl end
is all f r o m N ic ar agua, f ro m t he C o roj o
9 9 Plant , T he binder also c o me s f ro m
N i c ar agua, f ro m t he Este lí valley. T he
w r app er c o me s f ro m t he H abano Plant ,
but t here is so met hing ab out it s o r i gin
t hat is a bit c o nf using: t he c o l o r and
app ear anc e remind me of N ic ar agua,
but t here is so met hing t hat dr aws me
towar ds C o nne c t ic ut , p er haps t he
shine. T his c i gar sh ould b e easy to g et
a ho l d of, fo r around 10 USD.
It is now t ime to p repare our c o c k t ail and to li ght up t he c i gar. I di d b ot h of t he se
t hings c o nse c ut ive ly, sinc e I c ould not wait unt il b ot h were ready to st ar t enj oy ing
t he pair ing.
I had ant ic ipate d an enj oyable st ar t , but realit y was even b et ter. T he M anhat t an
was p er fe c t: balanc e d and w it h just a c it r ic touc h, t hanks fo r t he ingre di ent s use d.
Got
Got Rum
R um?? S
Septe
e p temb
mber
e r 2015
2 0 1 5 -- 54
54
O n t he ot her hand, t he c i gar lit up ver y we ll
to o, and it was c o mbining har m o ni ously
w it h t he o r ang e note s. I f you hap p en
to have o r ang e p e e l soake d in c ho c o late
bit ter s, def inite ly t r y inc o r p o r at ing t hem
into t he pair ing!
T he r um p er fo r me d as ex p e c te d in t he
re c ip e, al ways mak ing it s p re senc e
not ic eabl e, in a p er fe c t danc e of
dr y ne s s and c it r ic note s. T he mi x of
o r gano lept ic sens at i o ns was p er fe c t at
a l ow temp er ature. It is p o s sible t hat
t he s am e c o c k t ail woul d c o me ac ro s s as
r ough and lac k ing e le ganc e if it is not
ser ve d c hille d.
T he pair ing st ays fair ly even as we reac h
t he se c o nd t hird of t he c i gar, t he o nly
pr o bl em I fac e d was t he fac t t hat I had
alm o st f inishe d t he c o c k t ail, so met hing
t hat was ver y easy to reme dy! If you t r y
t his pair ing, you w ill k now just h ow easy
it is to get h o oke d!
A s far as t he c i gar, it was t r ue to it s
nam e, reminding me of roaste d c of fe e
and c o c oa, w hic h c o mbine d p er fe c t ly
w it h t he M anhat t an. T he c o mbinat i o n
of leave s was p er fe c t and t he dr aw was
exc ept i o nal.
I ho p e you c an f ind all t he se ingre di ent s
so you c an re - c reate t he pair ing, just like
I di d. Keep in mind t hough, t hat i f you
sele c t a Churc hill o r larger c i gar, you
may have to dr ink 4 o r 5 M anhat t ans, s o
c ho o se your size ac c o rdingly!
Ph oto Cre dit: @c i gar ili
Cheer s!
Philip Ili Bar ake
G o t Ru m ? S e p t e mb e r 2 0 1 5 - 5 5