August 16th holds special significance in the Venezuelan and Latin American calendars as the International Day of Rum. This date emphasizes the cultural significance and craftsmanship involved in making rum, thanks to brands like Ron Diplomático. Additionally, various celebrations and events throughout the year underline its deep-seated influence on Venezuelan culture and heritage. The Most Important Rum Brands

Diplomático, which is sold in 95 countries, is produced at a distillery set up in 1959 at the foot of the Andes Mountain in a small town called La Miel. The rum is made from a mix of sugarcane honey, pure water from the Andes mountains, and sugarcane molasses that undergo three different distillation processes. The rum is aged in four different kinds of barrels, predominantly those used for bourbon and malt whisky barrels. This provides the rum its complexity, flavour, and smoothness. The iconic face on the bottles of the Diplomático range is of Don Juancho (Don Juan Meléndez). He was a local nobleman who put his heart into exploring the sources, ingredients, and methods behind the many alluring flavours of rum and other traditional beverages. In Venezuela, there are several rum brands that are recognized both nationally and internationally for their distinctive quality and flavor. Some of the most important and prominent brands in the Venezuelan rum industry are as follows: Rum, that iconic distilled beverage that has delighted palates around the world, has deep roots in the history and culture of Venezuela. Over the years, Venezuelan rum has evolved from its humble beginnings to become one of the most respected and valued spirits globally. This educational and informative article will delve into the rich history of rum in Venezuela, from its origins to its international recognition. The Early Steps in Rum Production I was hoping to get something which would at least compete with Doorly’s 3 or Mount Gay Eclipse. If anyone is looking and thinking they will be getting a quality aged Foursquare product – I think their enthusiasm may turn to suspicion when they pour the first serving…….. Ron Bengalo Rum from Barbados. In todays climate most people out there will be hunting for the odd rum bargain. Especially, when it comes to something to use as a casual weekend mixer.

Popular distilleries of Venezuela

This expression is the perfect result of an ideal climate – surrounded by cool nights, sunny days, a nice, steady breeze, and plenty of rainfall. Especially with 12 years to mature, this climate creates an amazing and well-balanced profile. The expression ages in used scotch and bourbon casks, making it even more special. Venezuelan law mandates strict quality control measures for rum production, ensuring that every bottle meets the highest standards. The designation of “Ron de Venezuela” is reserved for rums that have been produced and aged in Venezuela according to these stringent regulations, guaranteeing the authenticity and quality of the product. This denomination allows to differentiate Venezuelan rums from those of the rest of the world. [ citation needed] List of brands [ edit ]

These are just some of the most important brands in the rum industry in Venezuela. Each of them has its own approach, history, and unique flavor profile, contributing to the diversity and richness of Venezuelan rum on the global stage. ConclusionThe Diplomático Reserva Exclusiva is the flagship product under the Diplomatico umbrella. They are made mainly from sugarcane honey with rum blends that are aged for up to 12 years under the hot Venezuelan sun. The ageing results in the loss of nearly 60 per cent of the spirit due to evaporation. What is left is a luxury sipping rum with aromas of orange peel, toffee, and liquorice. The taste is complex and well-balanced, with notes of wood and vanilla, with a seductive long-lasting finish. INDIA IS THE ONLY COUNTRY IN ASIA WHERE THE ENTIRE DIPLOMÁTICO RANGE WILL BE AVAILABLE. THE RUMS ARE SEGREGATED IN THREE DIFFERENT CATEGORIES. That’s not true for all countries, however. The definition of an age statement can vary significantly. In some places, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Colombia the Dominican Republic, for example, the age statement can reflect the average age of the blend rather than its youngest component. That definition can bring the stated age statement more in line with the average age of a solera’s contents.

In the case of Santa Teresa 1796, each bottle is a blend of rums ranging in age from 35 years to 5 years. The older rums, however, are only a small proportion of the overall blend. The color is a rich, dark amber with a pronounced orange-brown hue. On the nose, there is a distinctive aroma of molasses and brown sugar that gives way to a caramel sweetness, along with hints of cooked apple, some coffee notes, a touch of banana and a bit of melon. The exceptional quality and flavor of Venezuelan rum have not gone unnoticed on the international stage. Venezuelan rum has been recognized at numerous fairs and liquor competitions. Its distinctive flavor profile and carefully regulated production process have contributed to its esteemed position within the global liquor industry. Santa Teresa Gran Reserva is a unique blend of rums aged for up to five years. Sometimes overshadowed by the Distillery’s flagship expression, but this one stands well on its own with the same quality and complexity, while offering a different profile and its own flavors. The Venezuelan rum designation forbids the alteration of the mixture of rum by use of substances that provide artificial color, flavor or aroma. [2] These requirements also include the rum having, in the entirety of its components, a minimum of two years spent aging in white oak barrels and at least 40% anhydrous alcohol, and that none of the raw materials are mixed with molasses nor alcohol from other countries [3]On the nose it smells sweet and pretty much unaged. Theres not any signs of oak or anything that you might expect from an aged rum. It’s very similar to the supermarket Trini rums I mentioned earlier. It is difficult to say which distillery this is from but bearing in mind the metrics needed to supply Lidl I fancy this is from West Indies Rum Distilery (WIRD). Venezuelan rum is protected by the country’s policy of denomination of origin (D.O.C) called ‘Ron De Venezuela’, and the rum makers there guard it quite fiercely. Like in the case of Scotch whisky, the Venezuelan rum cannot be produced anywhere else in the world. All rums are required to be aged in oak barrels for a minimum of two years, and should contain at least 40 per cent alcohol. Artificial colour, flavour, aroma, or mixing of the rum with molasses or alcohol from other countries are all forbidden. All sugarcane used has to be produced locally as well. While the shape might be interesting, the color is the more potentially controversial topic. The glass on the bottle is a shiny brown (note that the more expensive Reserva Exclusiva was a matte green) that is just transparent enough to see that there is liquid inside… but not transparent enough to see the actual color of the spirit. On a more modern bottle, this would probably be crystal clear to show off the color — and I normally prefer a more transparent bottle for that exact reason. But here they are going for a bit of a more traditional take: tinted, almost opaque glass. Glass bottles used to be colored like this as standard operating procedure, as sunlight tends to degrade the contents of the bottle fairly rapidly. Colored glass (like we see here) prevents degradation and keeps the flavors intact longer. This tinted glass is a signal that this rum is meant to be sipped and enjoyed over time.

Maturation is in a combination of ex-bourbon barrels of American oak and in French Limousin oak some of which previously held wine or Cognac. Venezuelan rum’s reputation on the global stage continues to grow, with the spirit garnering awards and accolades at international competitions. The combination of Venezuela’s favourable climate, meticulous production process, and commitment to quality has resulted in rums that are recognised and celebrated worldwide. The practice can be confusing when the age of the solera appears on a bottle because the stated age of a solera has nothing to do with the age of the liquid drawn from it or the average age of the blend. According to Javelle Taft, bar manager at Death & Co.’s East Village outpost, it’s important to remember the origins of rum when considering the spirit today, something that certain brands are actively striving to do. “Rum was birthed out of colonialism and slave labor,” he says. “Since the turn of the century, Caribbean island style rum producers are working hard to reset the tragic history of where rum is today, in comparison to how it started.”In the late 1950’s, the Seagrams company managed to wrangle all of the production and distribution of spirits within the country of Venezuela into a single entity named Licorerias Unitas S.A. (LUSA), of which Seagram’s owned a 51% stake. In 1959, the Venezuelan company opened a new combined distillery that would be able to produce whiskey, rum, and other spirits to support this business.