RON/ RUM MADE IN DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
An older Barcelo Añeja TV Commercial. Make sure you watch the entire video. There are 2 here, the second after a short pause. This is a Colmado in el campo/the country.
This is another older TV Commercial for Barcelo. I love the way it shows the real Dominican people from the town of La Vega. The Framboyan tree, the tree with the vibrant red flowers, in this video is beautiful.
Ron / Rum in Dominican Republic is a staple, almost as important as water. It is said that rum is the essence of the Dominican spirit. The major competition rum here has is the
beer. The rum made on the island is some of the best in the world. It is not that easily obtained in many parts of the world. This is why when you come to visit our country take as much back home with you as you are permitted. Also remember if you buy that bottle of
mamajuana it tastes best made with Dominican rum.
Among some or the major rum companies in Quisqueya are Barcelo (Puerta Plata), Brugal (Santiago and Santo Domingo), Bermudez, Pedro Justo Carrion (San Pedro de Marcorix-owned by Brugal), Ron Siboney,Vinicola del Norte. I am sure there are more and I will post them as I discover them.
Brugal Esencia de Santo Domingo / The Essence of Santo Domingo
Some history of Brugal Ron / Rum
During the second half of the 19th Century, Don Andrés Brugal Montaner, the Spanish national who started making this rum, decided to come to the Dominican Republic from Cuba. He came to Puerto Plata and used his rum making experience he learned in Cuba to start making rum here. Thus began Brugal & Co. This long established family business, started by Don Andrés has become one of the top businesses in the country and has branched off into many smaller businesses and organizations helping the country and its people.
The Brugal factory is located in Puerto Plata in the northern part of the island. Their distribution and marketing offices are located in Santo Domingo and Santiago de los Caballeros.
picture Brugal Siglo Del Oro -top of the line
picture-Brugal-Añejo-Described as a "5 year old 80 proof rum-deep amber color-medium body-hint of sweetness-flavor having a hint of sweetness equal to dates, a smoky flan, and a woody balance-broad flavors soar across the palate".)
You can tour the Brugal Rum bottling factory while you are in Puerto Plata in North Coast of Dominican Republic. The visitor can have a short tour of the oldest bottling operation in Dominican Republic. The best part is at the end of the tour you get to sample our liquid gold. The factory produces more than one and a half million liters of white and dark rum each year.
Tours are conducted Monday to Friday 9am to 12pm, and 2pm to 5pm;
picture/image-Brugal Blanco Ron
Barceló The adventures of 25 year old Jualian Barceló started in January 1929 when he left his native island of Mallorca to to make his own way on another island, Dominican Republic. He joined his brother who was already here to start their own rum company, Barceló & Co.They worked hard that first year and then all they did was destroyed one year after they started in 1930 by the worst disasters in the history of the country, the San Zenón hurricane. Santo Domingo was totally devastated and their new business was ruined. Andres was done here and he went to settle in Puerto Rico. Julian stayed and rebuilt his dream. Selling from his old model Ford, he promoted his product driving around the island which worked. He made his dream into one of the mayor forces in the nation's industry.
The business moved around until it made its permanent home in 1946 on the eastern bank of the Ozama River, which can be seen from the Fortaleza Ozama.
picture/image Barceló Añejo
Julian Barceló (who died in 1982) believed in team work and identified strongly with the needs of his community. He cared about education, health and sports. Most of all, he cared about helping young people build a future. This family business has grown and is still run by the family Barceló.
picture/image Barceló Dorado bottle
picture/image Barceló Columbus bottle
Some hints on how to enjoy the rum and remove the yellow net from the bottle...
Removing the netting from a Brugal bottle is an acquired art. Turn the bottle upside down and find the shorter end. Pull and it should fall open. If by chance you do grab the wrong end and tie the knot tight don't try tearing the netting. It is strong and could hurt you little fingers. Trying to cut it with a knife or scissors is not acceptable. You can always give the netting a sharp tug at the top of the bottle making an opening large enough to be able to pop the top of the bottle out of its yellow cage giving direct access to the lid. Once you have gained access to the lid and are waiting to open it there is a plastic sheet covering the lid. Twist this while pulling up and it should crack the little perforated side seam and pop right off. Then, as with all bottles twist the cap off. The aroma will fill your little nose holes and you will be so excited to put this fine liquid into your glass and start drinking..but WAIT...one more step. You have to dump a small amount, thimble full to half a shot (don't get too friendly) onto the floor. Accompanying this action you say "for the dead" of if you are real brave in Spanish "por los muertos". This is for the dead and it is a tradition in Dominican Republic to do this. Its not that much Rum so I do not consider this alcohol abuse (*note - the dictionary of the Dominicana Gringa states "alcohol abuse is when you spill a glass, drop a bottle, or in any way waste this gift from the gods of the island") and it is fun to join in with the customs of the country. So don't forget a little hit for the dead!
*Remember this Dominican saying when you drink rum: Si tomas Brugal tú resuelve o peleas. - If you drink Brugal (rum) you either fight or have sex.
I have never figured out a use for the netting. I use one in my kitchen to hold the onions and some veggies. You can tie them together and use them as a rope. Save them to see how much of a drinker you really are. Put one on your head like a skull cap to show the world just how much you have drank..drunken..drinked...
Brandy from Connecticut wrote with a game they play with the nets from the Brugal bottle: "My friends have a tradition of awarding the net to the person who finishes the bottle. The net is then tied around the wrist and worn as a bracelet. This has become a game for us and often we are drinking quickly to see who will get the last swig! It is also a sign that those of us who aren't Dominican can drink with the best of them!!" Thanks for the input Brandy.
Any more uses for the netting please send them to us and I'll be happy to include them here.
What exactly is the history of rum one may ask? It is a distilled alcoholic liquor made from sugar and molasses. It became an important product of the Western Indies with the arrival of Columbus and his introduction of sugar cane to the islands. It was discovered that the molasses could be fomented and distilled to make a smooth and stimulating liquid.
The beverage made from molasses was first mentioned in history in some documents of Barbados in 1650. Rum was referred to as Mata-Diablo or Kill-Devil' and Rumbullion or Great Turmoil. Kill-devil "(' it kills-diablo') or" rumbullion "was called to him" (a word of Devonshire, England, that means ' great tumultó). In the French Antillean colonies, guildive was called to him later (modification of "kill-devil") and tafia, an African or indigenous term. It has also been called tafia by the Africans and guildive which is Kill-Devil a little modified. It later was called Rum (Rhum in French and Ron is Spanish) which seemed to have come from Jamaica and has kept the name ever since.
Rum was exported to Europe from the Antilles, used in slave trade and Indian trade as well. It was traded for Gold and Silver.
Ron Bermúdez originated in 1852.Started by Don Erasmo Bermúdez when he created the formula for the "Amargo Panacea", an appetizer rum and which quickly became famous. Their mission is to produce the most authentic Dominican rum, with insuperable characteristics, and to be of service to the general public in accordance to their industrial ethic to always compete with quality.
They have a line of products, Premium, Añejos, Dorados, Blancos, and 151 rums. They also make Ginebras/Gin, Vodka, Whisky, and Licores/Liquors (Mint, Cream, Amaretto and Triple Sec)
They have offices in Santo Domingo and Santiago Go to
their web site for more information
Carta Dorada by Brugal. This rum, as with most, is made from molasses produced by local sugarcane. The fields are not sprayed nor artificially fertilized. This rum has received many international prizes for its quality. It is considered one of the finest rums on the planet. Its flavor is excellent and it is very inexpensive.
How about a few drinks made with Rum?
Cuba Libre or Santa (could be Santo, not real sure) Libre
Also known in English as a Rum and Coke but it sounds so much better if you say it in Spanish
2 ounces of rum (don't forget to
pour a little on the ground for the dead)
Cola (Santa Libre use lime soda (ie: Sprite or 7up) in place of the cola)
squeeze of lime
Serve in a highball glass filled with ice, add the rum then fill with the coke add the lime.
To make a Cuba Libre Dominican Style. Get a large styrofoam glass. Fill with ice. Fill it almost to the top with rum. Add a shot of soda to the glass and lime if you have it. Swirl it around a bit or mix with your finger if necessary Now for the best part...drink it down! Enjoy! / ¡Disfrutar! / gozar de
Rum Cosmo
2 ounces of white rum/ ron blanco
1 ounce triple sec
1/2 ounce lime juice/ jugo de limón
1/2 ounce cranberry juice
shake all ingredients with ice. Strain. Or make a smoothie put the ingredients in a blender/ licuadora with a little ice and blend. Can be served with a salted rim/ borde cubierto de sal if you like.
Carajillo or Carahijo (the man that told me about this drink was not sure of the exact spelling or measurements. Maybe he had one to many of these drinks.)
Get a shot of rum. Get a cup of espresso coffee. Ask for another cup to do the mixing because the coffee cup will be too small. Add sugar and or cinnamon to the coffee if desired. Mix the coffee and rum together...yummm
picture/image Carta Dorada rum/ron
picture/image bottle of Bermúdez Amber Ron/Rum
picture/image bottle of Bermúdez Ron
My favorite rum for sipping on ice is Barcelo Columbo. For me it is not too sweet and does not have a "bite". It has just the right burn as it flows smoothly down the throat. Yummm...try a sip. Janette
Real Life and Times in the Dominican Republic
+click to enlarge
Picture of Barcelo Imperial - their top of the line rum
