The Rum Trident of Ron Colon

Join the Rum-page! We're taking you back to the future of exciting new expressions.

If you're into the history of Rum, you know the timeline is twisted, and there's a fact-vs-fiction grey area to keep in mind. But it's a tasty ‘Kinder Surprise’ we advise you to open. We've boiled it all down to three simplified stages: molasses - moonshine - master blending.

Now that you’re all caught up with the last few hundred years, we’re back in 2018 when the story of Ron Colon begins with Thurman Wise and Pepijn Janssens. It’s a 'passion project' of friends that turned the celebration of the spirit of El Salvador into its own mini Rum-olution—displaying Rum-blending skills level - gobsmacked. So, we're boiling that down to 3 examples of 'Aged-Spirits and Blending' excellence in contemporary Rum production - the staple, the trend, and the innovation.

The brand builds on a firm foundation blended from 6-years-old column-stilled Salvadoran Rum from Licorera Cihuatán Distillery, 3-years-old Jamaican pot-stilled, and un-aged pot still made Rum. The Ron Colón Salvadoreño Dark Aged Rum. 

Think of it as the jump-off to the increasingly popular style - here's where the plot thickens. The Ron Colón Salvadoreño Coffee Infused Rum Green Label marks an outstanding coffee-infused aged Rum with a brand-specific twist. Next stop? The deep unknown.

Ron Colón Salvadoreño Rum Rye. The what? (You know the meme.) Yup, it's a blended Rum delicacy blended even further. One half RC Dark Aged Rum and half of a 4-years-old American Straight Rye aged in #4 car casks. A moment for wheel-turning and mouth-watering. There's nothing else out there like it. 

Shake a leg; it's adventure time! Get friends involved, and you can fine-tune your palate to particular Rum-product-variations together and demystify at least some of the Rum-ors going around, just like Enid Blyton would want you to. 

Smartass Corner:

1) Rum was currency at some point in history, also ‘Colon’ is the name of the currency used in El Salvador before the US Dollar from 2001. In 2021 however, El Salvador became the first country to make Bitcoin legal tender. 

2) Your ‘e’ in Whiskey vs Whisky distinction might impress some of your ‘spirits-muggle friends. It’s time to revamp your social repertoire. Introduce the ‘h’ in Rum vs Rhum debate. It’s Rhum Agricole, actually, and it refers to Rum distilled from pressed sugar cane juice in the French Caribbean countries.  

3) While the history of Rum consumption by the (British) navy since the early 18th century is well documented, so is the drink it produced - grog. Even the dram itself is still around, and the term ‘groggy’ still means you have a hangover.

4) There's another interesting drink from the early 17th century called ‘flip made’ from rum, beer, and molasses. The mixture must be stirred with a hot iron stick. And it is supposedly making a come-back.

5) Rum has been attributed many healing properties over the centuries. Some even believe that Rum is an effective hair-loss remedy, but it allegedly only works by rubbing the juice into the scalp and not drinking.

6) One of the most popular and insightful books on the subject matter, ‘And a Bottle of Rum: A History of the New World in Ten Cocktails’ by Wayne Curtis has been revised and updated in 2018. Comes highly recommended. 

7) Rum is a tricky category. Whatever 'rule-of-thumb' you might've adopted for classifying your fine Spirits will do little when it comes to Rum. The colour does reflect ageing, ageing doesn't reflect the flavour, and the flavour doesn't directly reflect the price—a new rule to follow. Read the label carefully!