Rum
Brugal – the unstoppable rise of the Dominican Rum brand follows a whiskey trail to the top
Apr
Sitting alongside The Macallan and Highland Park in the Edrington stable has undoubtedly helped family-led rum brand Brugal
Owned by Glasgow-based luxury drinks conglomerate Edrington, Brugal, the fifth-generation family-run Dominican rum business, sits comfortably alongside world-beating brands like The Macallan. Highland Park and Glenrothes are also siblings in the Edrington stable and, like Brugal, are on a route to success that’s sharply focused on a strategy of how to get there.
Edrington is a master brand builder, continually elevating each member of its drinks portfolio to the top of the luxury spirits menu. Currently reinventing Highland Park and Glenrothes, two more of its award-winning Scottish whisky brands, it appears to have its eyes firmly on the luxury rum market, and Brugal is the way in.
Having the youngest Maestra Ronera (master distiller; pictured above) in the business and the first female appointed to the role in rum’s heartland in the Dominican Republic has helped capture headlines for this ambitious brand. That Maestra Ronera is Jasill Villanueva Quintana, the great-great-granddaughter of Burgal’s founder, Andres Brugal. Growing up within the family business has provided the training and groundwork for this expert rum maker, enabling her to reach exemplary heights in her career, as well as in shaping her great-great-grandfather’s vision.
Brugal Starting point
Don Andrés Brugal travelled from Spain to the Caribbean in the mid-19th century, reportedly learning about rum in Cuba before arriving in the Dominican Republic, where he launched his first dark rum in 1888. Five generations later and this enterprising family runs three distilleries that not only produce the top-selling rum in the country but also underpin a rum brand that is quickly becoming an international market leader.
Premium rum is an easy bedfellow of whisky. Matured in oak and finished in wine casks, it follows a maturation pathway that pulls flavour from the wood and its time in cask. It’s a versatile drink too that, like whisky, is best enjoyed neat and over ice but can be a major component of cocktails and long mixed drinks.
€47.97 (Ex. VAT)
Brugal 1888
Brugal 1888 is the flagship release. Distilled from molasses derived from sugar cane, it’s a classic example of the Brugal signature style. Matured in ex-bourbon and sherry casks for up to 14 years, this double-aged rum comes packed with notes of vanilla, dark fruit, caramel and chocolate. It’s a smooth and sweet pour that captures the oaked spice of its two cask types.
It’s a deep red colour with a rich aroma that carries the sherry cask elements first, ahead of notes of cinnamon and vanilla. The palate brings waves of toffee and chocolate that lead to a long-lasting creamy aftertaste.
Awarded 93 points by both Wine Enthusiast and the Ultimate Spirits Competition, and a Gold Medal by the Global Rum Masters, Brugal 1888 is a terrific entry point to the Brugal lineup.
Click here to view all the bottles in our rum collection
