The Location
The Central American state Costa Rica lies in the tropics, however, the climatic conditions in various regions of Costa Rica differ greatly from each other. While the precipitation in the capital San José amounts to 1857 mm, it’s almost twice as much in Puerto Limón, which lies in the west. Since the cultivation of sugarcane requires tropical temperatures and heavy precipitation, it’s only fitting that rum has a long history in Costa Rica.
The History of Ron Centenario
Ron Centenario was founded in the 1960s as a daughter firm of Seagram, which was expanding rapidly during this time. The choice of Costa Rica as a location for cultivation and production became a unique selling point for the premium rum. It took until the middle of the 80s until the first Centenario rum was presented publicly: the Ron Centenario Añejo. Compared to today’s releases, this original edition matured for a shorter time. However, Ron Centenario convinced rum fans from the very beginning with its unique character that is still present today.
For a long time, Ron Centenario was mostly sold locally and in other Central American countries. It took until 2002 for the spirit to be presented to an international audience. To expand its reach, the rum was brought to Spain in 2007, where it received great acclaim. Since then, the brand has increased its assortment and its international presence heavily.
Ron Centenario has been owned by the UDG Group since 2016.
Ron Centenario vs. Ron Zacapa Centenario
There’s some confusion about the brands Ron Centenario and Ron Zacapa Centenario. While these brands are similar in name, they are completely separate companies that have nothing to do with each other. Ron Zacapa Centenario, or Ron Zacapa, is a rum that has been produced in Guatemala since the 70s. “Centenario” means centennial, by the way. Ron Centenario rum can therefore be translated as “centennial rum”.
How is Ron Centenario produced?
The production of Centenario rum begins with the selection of the sugar cane. To create a rum of exquisite quality, only the best plants are selected for processing. After the juice is extracted, the fermentation process can begin. For this, specific types of yeast are added to the sugar cane juice, which then starts the conversion of sugar into alcohol. After the fermentation is finished, the distillation can begin.
However, the production of Ron Centenario isn’t finished after distillation, as the rum is stored for a while in premium casks made from white oak. During this process, the rum gains a refined and unique aroma as well as its dark colour, which can range from amber to a deep brown tint.
Ron Centenario rums are blends, meaning different rums are mixed together. The company has not released any information on its blending process yet.
Ron Centenario at Gustero
Besides whisky, gin, liqueur, vodka and other spirits, you can also find countless rums from all over the world in our shop, including, of course, this popular rum from Costa Rica. For an easy entry into the world of Ron Centenario, we recommend the Ron Centenario Gran Legado 12 Años. If you’re looking for something special, try the Ron Centenario Edicion Limitada Solera 30 Años. This rum is matured for 30 years in the Solera system in charred white oak casks.
