The Dominican Republic is famous worldwide for its rums: in the town of Puerto Plata, among the finest varieties of sugarcane, one of the best rums in the world is distilled. The Brugal Rum since 1888 is synonymous with superior quality and, whether neat or used in cocktails, satisfies the most demanding connoisseurs. Its different levels of aging make it perfect for many occasions. Brugal is a reality rooted in a long family tradition that passes down its secrets from generation to generation. It has produced rum since 1888 and from the very first bottles distilled, quality has been the inspiring reason behind what would become one of the strongest forces in the Dominican economic fabric. The sense of continuity that the Brugal family has been able to transmit to the company has allowed it to infuse the strength of its entrepreneurial vision into continually new goals. The company’s winning card has been the ability to transfer, without losing any aspect, the artisanal quality of a unique product like rum into efficient modern production processes. And into spirits that give the palate precious and elegant sensations.
Rum is the tropical drink par excellence, and this is why one of its happiest expressions comes precisely from the Dominican Republic, the beating heart of the Caribbean. It is the true soul of the Caribbean that pervades the spirit of the best rums containing within them the flavor of their origins, the intense scents of a distant and mysterious land where the primordial beauty of the forest and sea formed the backdrop to pirate and buccaneer hideouts. As often happens with the finest things, chance brings changes to the course of history, and so it was also with the birth of rum. Colonists noticed that the syrup derived from sugar production would ferment into a sweet substance that, once distilled, produced an alcoholic liquid. From that moment on, increasingly refined and complex processing methods have returned to us an exquisite nectar.
Brugal produces as many as five varieties of rum that have a well-defined personality and particular organoleptic characteristics. The longer the aging process, the more precious the absolute quality of the rum. However, each type of rum knows how to enhance its array of aromas and nuances if tasted correctly: white rums perform best when skillfully mixed in cocktails and long drinks or paired… with Coca-Cola! Because the rum and cola combination is not just Cuban territory. The añejos and ambers – which age in wood for a period between three and five years – are much appreciated on their own, but they are also exquisite on the rocks or combined in cocktails with blancos and fruit. The ageds are refined in oak barrels for at least ten years. Enjoyed in a sherry glass or the classic crystal balloon, they offer intense sensations, the result of their incredible aromatic spectrum obtained also thanks to their long stay in fine woods which, over time, bring out notes of ripe fruit, caramel, blond tobacco, spicy hints of vanilla, and balsamic scents typical of oak. Generally, for this type of product, second-use barrels are employed, used to refine bourbon and whiskey, which with their elegant and lighter tannins than new woods do not overshadow the rum’s personality. To make the viejos fully release even their subtlest aromas, they can be mixed with an equal amount of natural water. The ideal serving temperature for this type and for golden rums is between 12 and 14 degrees Celsius, and anyone who has never tasted – sipped neat in the appropriate glass – a superb viejo, trying it for the first time, will have a truly intense and emotional experience. Furthermore, when the opportunity arises, aged rums can really make a difference in certain cocktails.
The various Brugals differ fundamentally by their aging progression: Brugal Blanco, clear and smooth, is the purest of the Dominican white rums, a fundamental element for quality cocktails; Brugal Carta Dorada, pioneer among the ambers, is renowned for its quality; Brugal Añejo, a rum that in its category has no equal in the Dominican Republic and that many other national companies have tried to imitate; Brugal Extra Viejo, internationally considered the best aged rum in the world; and last but not least, Brugal Siglo de Oro represents the zenith of the family’s century-old tradition and a masterpiece of international liquoring. Given the versatility and breadth of the range, it’s no surprise that Brugal holds 85% of the local market and is the third largest producer in the world. For Dominicans, it is a real institution, now a part of daily life: romantic meetings, farewells, weddings, funerals, birthdays, anniversaries, joys, and sorrows are invariably shared over a bottle of Brugal. Every moment has its ideal accompaniment and becomes an occasion to better appreciate the fruits of a generous land that offers, besides its natural beauties, exciting sensations, alluring scents, and intoxicating aromas.
Santo Libre
Dominican alternative to Cuba Libre
– 5 cl dark rum (Brugal Añejo is excellent)
– 3-5 ice cubes
– ¼ lime
– Sprite
Put lime in the cocktail glass, cover with ice cubes, add the rum, and top with Sprite. Garnish with a lime slice.
Piña Colada
A low-alcohol cocktail that wonderfully combines all the most authentic flavors of the Caribbean
– 3/10 clear rum;
– 5/10 pineapple juice
– 2/10 coconut milk
Put all ingredients in a blender with a few ice cubes. Serve the cocktail before the ice has completely melted. Garnish with a pineapple wedge or a maraschino cherry.
