Mixability
is helping the Spanish-style spirit to a renaissance. Lucy
Britner explores the background
Spanish Settlers brought with them to rum’s heartland
their knowledge and love of brandy and sherry. So rum-making Spanish style is
sometimes influenced by the solera system of maturation. It is also largely
centred around South and Central America.
Diplomatico marketing manager Javier
Herrera Toral describes Spanish-style rum as ‘smooth’. He adds: “Basically,
most of the rums with this origin are easy-going, with a smooth palate and are
easy to sip.”
Several places are important to the
history of Spanish-style rums, which came into their own in the 19th and 20th
centuries. Spaniard Don Juan Serrallés imported a still to Puerto Rico in 1865
and Spanish drinkers back home enjoyed the Rom Barrilito brand, as did some
Americans. The commercial stage was set, though some boast production before
1865.
Venezuela is a key country for
Spanish-style rums and Santa Teresa claims to be the oldest rum brand
registered there – its 1796 expression carries the year of the hacienda’s
incorporation. 1796 makes use of the solera system and today the company also
has a social program called Project Alcatraz that aims to rehabilitate gangland
criminals.
Diageo looks after two Venezuelan,
non-solera rums – Cacique and Pampero. Cacique – meaning ‘chief of the tribe’ in
Spanish – has been around since 1959. Pampero is slightly older, having been
launched in 1938. Both count Venezuela
and Spain as their key markets and Pampero is also big in Italy. Also in Venezuela is Diplomatico, which
doesn’t employ the solera system but does make use of Spanish drinking
habits.
Toral says: “All the rums blended in
Diplomatico are aged separately until they achieve their optimum age. The first
ageing is always done in 180-litre American white oak barrels, which were used
first to age bourbon or Scotch. Some of our rums are aged in a second stage in
Spanish sherry and Pedro Ximenez barrels. Blending is the last stage.”
Heading north, Nicaragua is home to Flor
de Cana – Spanish for ‘sugar cane flower’. According to the brand, the first
distillery was built at the San Antonio Sugar Mill in Chichigalpa, Nicaragua,
in 1890. In 1937, an independent company was founded within the plantation
called Compañía Licorera de Nicaragua and it launched the brand Flor de Caña in
that year. The company describes its ageing process as a “unique slow-ageing method”
in American oak barrels and the brand does not use the solera system. In summer
last year, the brand revamped its packaging to pay closer attention to its
heritage and age statements.
Further north, Guatemala was better known
for coffee until commercial distillers became established in about 1914. The
20th century also saw the creation of Industria Licoreras de Guatamala, the
company which makes the Botran brand and Diageo joint venture Zacapa. It’s a
massive operation. Zacapa is known for its maturation at high altitude in what
is called the House Above the Clouds and the solera system is employed,
creating a blend of old and new rums in the same way that many Spanish brandies
are produced.
With his
eye on the prize, Spanish emigrant Don Facundo Bacardi bought a distillery in
Santiago (Cuba) in 1862. He was the pioneer of dry, light Cuban rum. In the
words of Dave Broom: “You could call it a Spanish style – but I wouldn’t advise
it in front of a Cuban distiller”, Wise
words. Havana Club set up shop in 1878 and the rest, as they say, is history.
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| Francisco "Don Pancho" Fernandez |
One modern master of the Spanish style of rum is Francisco "Don Pancho" Fernandez. His history of rum making in Cuba with Havana Club, Abuelo Rums, and on his own rums working with Carlos E. Esquivel G. at their Pilsa Distillery in Panama. "Don Pancho" makes his rums in the true Spanish style and his newest expression "Origines" are an expression of his lifelong belief in true rums of the Spanish heritage.
The Spanish style of rum making is one that has a long history and provides the world with a true rum that stands alone without additives and the flavor of the rum comes directly from the skills of the distillers and the blenders. ;o)
