Ron Centenario

Ron Centenario is an iconic Costa Rican rum brand that was born in the 1980s and has since become a symbol of quality and tradition in Latin America. It is produced at the Fanal distillery, which is the national Costa Rican distillery with state supervision - similar to Cuba's Havana Club. This approach guarantees not only consistent quality, but also the authenticity of the rums.

Centenario Internacional launched the first rums intended not only for domestic consumption but also for export. Although sugar cane cultivation has a long history in Costa Rica, world-class rum production only really took off at that time. Today, Ron Centenario is produced in San José, using domestic sugar cane and traditional bourbon oak barrels.

The production process begins with high-quality molasses from Costa Rican sugar cane. Distillation takes place in continuous column stills, resulting in a pure and smooth distillate. The rums are then aged in American white oak barrels that previously contained bourbon. A characteristic feature of the brand is the use of the Solera system, known for example from Spanish sherry or Guatemalan Zacapa, which blends rums of different ages to create a harmonious, complex result.

The brand's portfolio is rich and offers various degrees of maturity. Ron Centenario Añejo Especial 7 is a younger rum suitable for mixed cocktails, while Ron Centenario 9 Conmemorativo offers a delicate caramel and vanilla profile. Ron Centenario 12 Años Gran Legado is fruitier and nuttier, suitable for sipping. The brand's flagship is Ron Centenario 20 Años Fundación, which offers a rich, sweet profile with dried fruit, caramel and chocolate. For the more discerning, there is Ron Centenario 25 Años Gran Reserva with notes of honey, cocoa and smoky oak.

The brand is based on a combination of Costa Rica's tropical climate and an exceptional aging system. The solera method is used, as well as the classic long-term aging in bourbon oak barrels. This has led to the creation of legendary editions such as Centenario 20 Fundación or Centenario 30 Edición Limitada, which are among the most recognized rums in the region.

Interestingly, Ron Centenario was originally created to commemorate the centennial of Costa Rica's independence - hence its name. It is currently exported to dozens of countries and is considered a national pride. In addition to rums for neat drinking, it also offers limited collections intended for collectors and discerning connoisseurs.