Ron Colón’s Salvadoreño’s journey started in 2018 with founders Thurman Wise and Pepijn Janssens. The idea to create their own rum brand had been part of their conversations for over a year. During 2018, their job took them on a 22-day, 16-country barhop across Latin America, and it was during this trip that El Salvador captured their attention. El Salvador is the smallest country in Central America, famous for magnificent volcanoes, world-class surf spots, wonderful coffee and fine sugar cane. And so, the story began: a rum passion project with origins in El Salvador, and the ambition to create a high-proof rum designed with bartenders in mind.

“At Ron Colón, it has always been our goal to bridge world,” the partners said. “With our rum portfolio, we connected rum and coffee, bringing together the two finest raw ingredients exported from El Salvador. We continue to innovate on rum, bridging industries and categories to create new flavor experiences. “There was a time when rum was the most popular spirit in America. However, when new heavy taxes on molasses were introduced in the mid 1700s, it caused an almost immediate decline in the rum industry. The gap that rum left gave space for a new spirit of choice. By the late 1700s, there were thousands of small whiskey distilleries in Pennsylvania, Maryland and the surrounding states. Rye was the grain of choice, and rye whiskey rapidly grew in popularity. Our aim is to blend these two worlds with RumRye, creating a spirit that is a 50/50 split between rum and rye whiskey, showcasing both spirits side by side and creating a new category.”

RumRye
RumRye (50% ABV) is 50% Ron Colón Salvadoreño Dark Aged Rum and 50% 2017 American Straight 100% Rye Whiskey. Ron Colón Salvadoreño is a dark, aged rum distilled from a special blend creating a complex flavor palate. The blend includes a six-year-old Salvadoran rum from Licorera Cihuatán from aged and unaged pot-distilled rums from Worthy Park Estate, Monymusk and Hampden distilleries in Jamaica. “By combining column-distilled and pot-distilled rums, the overall flavor offers contrasting characteristics that interact to create something quite unique.”

2017 American Straight 100% Rye Whiskey is a four-year old straight whiskey distilled from 100% rye to showcase the warm and rich spice of the grain. It aged in a charred new oak barrel with a #4 char on the staves and a #2 char on the heads. “The overall flavor is bold with distinctive honey-like texture, fresh mint and floral notes.” The RumRye blend has the aim “… of presenting both spirits at their best, giving an authentic flavor and showcasing the special blend of rum and rye together.” The partners’ tasting notes read: “Tropical fruit with sticky banana, pineapple, fresh mint and warm honey and a hint of spice. The palate is bold, with notes of candied fruit, orange blossom; the rich, bright and distinctive spice of a classic rye balanced with the natural sweetness in the rum. The finish is dry, with notes of citrus and soft mint.”

Packaging
“We chose early on that we wanted Ron Colón’s Salvadoreño to be about the liquid, hence the choice to stay away from fancy mold designs and go for the most affordable glass solution in the industry. It’s important to know that wine bottle glass is 100% recyclable and can be recycled endlessly without loss in quality or purity. In the labels and closure, we have brought back to life the colon currency through our own designs.

Signature Serves
Banana Boulevardier
25-ml Ron Colón Salvadoreño RumRye
25-ml Belsazar white vermouth
25-ml Mondino Amaro
5-ml Banane du Bresil liqueur
Lemon oils

RumRye Highball
50-ml Ron Colón Salvadoreño RumRye
100-ml tonic water
Orange & grapefruit oil

Chamomile Old Fashioned
50-ml Ron Colón Salvadoreño RumRye
1 teaspoon unrefined cane sugar
3 drops Darjeeling tea and
chamomile bitters
Lemon oils