Interest in rums beyond the white variety that are the basis of so many cocktails has increased as new versions come to market from classic regions such as the Caribbean to unforeseen resources such as the Philippines, India and the Czech Republic. One of Guatemala’s best-known brands was Botran, which opted to withdraw from the market for two years and now returns with a new technique to a more complicated market. To be more informed, I interviewed Iván Valdez de Botran, Senior Director of Guatemala’s Global Liquor Brand.
Why did Botran stop for two years?
As Guatemala’s best-selling aged rum, representing Guatemala in more than 50 countries around the world, we took the time to review our logo and market strategy. Globally, we have increased our vision of “filling every glass with the bright and colorful spirit of Guatemalan rum,” resulting in a new look and certifications that show the provenance of the logo and the mastery of rum. Subsequently, our market strategy led us to look for the spouse with the ability and willingness to position Ron Botran in the high range. segment. Therefore, our revamped logo, forged references and forged partner make it the ideal time for a reintegration in order to achieve sustained expansion in the US market.
What are the new certifications?
• Botran is the best-selling aged rum in Guatemala with the Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) “Ron de Guatemala”
• ISCC PLUS Accreditation (International Sustainability)
• Unbiased carbon certified through SGS in popularity of Botran Guatemalan Spirits’ commitment to our planet. Since 1977, Guatemalan Spirits has planted and cultivated more than 1. 8 million trees in Guatemala. (As a result, it self-mitigates its carbon footprint the desire to buy carbon credits. )
What does sustainability mean for rum production?
In 2019, Botran received the ISCC PLUS award through the International Carbon Sustainability Certification, making it the first sustainable rum in the world to become a sustainable rum-making process (social, harvesting, distillation, aging, bottling) rather than a segment of the rum journey. Therefore, we proudly carry our “ISCC” seal on every back label of our products; In addition, it is a commitment to sustainable practices such as:
• Facilities provided with situations good enough for our staff to be protected and well
• Reforestation
• Water control – More than 96% of the water used in our plant is recycled
• Waste management: we use cane bagasse to produce blank energy
• Clean energy: we use biogas, which reduces our fossil fuel consumption by 40-50%
Is the San Andrés distillery the same one used through Zacapa?
Yes, Botran and Zacapa are part of the same distillery. But keep in mind that Botran uses other sugar canes, has its own aging plant in Xela, Quezaltenango, and has 3 female Master Blenders who paint on Botran rums: Magda López, Master Blender and Aging Facility Manager; Yazmín Chapetón, master mixer and guilty of production and mixing; Leslie Taracena, Blender Master and researcher and coordinator of Blend.
What is botran’s Dynamic Aging System?
Botran’s dynamic aging formula is more complex than a classic solera formula. Instead of employing the same pyramidal design of the screed, we created an old stacked formula that works in vertical columns. Over the years, our 3 Master Blenders have perfected this aging regimen. , elevating it to an art form.
Different types of barrels are used in each column to keep the process dynamic, with an emphasis on amplifying flavors and aromas. As our rums are assembled, the barrels are relocated and the procedure is repeated. Over time, younger rums acquire the great ambitious flavors and distinct personalities of aged rums. Each mixture is created to highlight in particular the desired characteristics. It is a suitable solera formula that adds complexity and creates roundness and homogeneity in Botran’s portfolio.
Is the rum market developing in terms of sales and quantity of rums in the market?
In 2021, the overall rum market in the United States reached a total volume of 198 million liters. While the rum and rum price segments are declining (5-year compound annual expansion rate of -1%), the expansion comes from the top tier segments These are the premium, super premium, ultra premium, prestige and prestige plus segments with a 5-year CAGR of 4%, 20%, 22%, 10% and 44%, respectively.
How would you distinguish a Guatemalan rum from a rum from other parts of the Caribbean?
Guatemalan rum has a designation of origin, which is protected through the National Association of Producers of Alcoholic Spirits of Guatemala. It has been identified in 32 countries, adding those of the European Union. The taste of Guatemalan rum is unique to a single harvest. to some other and everything happens in Guatemala:
• Our terroir is made up of vertisol soils, which are found in 2% of planet earth.
• We are a Guatemalan rum and we use two types of sugar cane that are used for Botran rum: Chapina and Preciosal
• We use molasses (a by-product of sugar production). We use virgin honey that comes from the first grinding of sugarcane, a highly concentrated sugarcane juice.
• We drop in altitude in the mountains of Guatemala to 2,300 meters above sea level.
• We have a unique formula of dynamic aging, evolved and promoted through the classic formula of aging of the solera.
Do you have a guest and tasting room? If so, can you tell me about it?
Yes. We invite interested visitors to receive more information about casa Botran’s experience in https://botranrum. com/casa-botran-revel in/. Guests can book e-tours to learn more about our rums, their production, aging and over 80 years of our history. Tastings will take place as part of the Casa Botran tour.
Are your other aged rums better for drinking or are they for mixing?
While we think everyone enjoys our rums as they see fit, we have a tendency to recommend our Reserva Blanca and No. 8 rums to mix. The Reserva Blanca was specially designed at the request of barhaves who were looking for paintings with an aged rum profile, but who did not need color to obstruct the creation of brightly colored cocktails. We use a special activated carbon filtration procedure that removes the color but maintains the flavor. Botran’s No. 12 is an ideal selection for someone looking for a more complicated but flexible rum that can pair cocktails or drink. For those who like to drink rums, natural or with ice, the No. 18 de Botran and nº 15 are exceptional characteristics when it comes to tasting our cane spirits. These two wines in particular have aged in ex-Sherry and ex-Port barrels, providing complicated nuances of flavors and aromas that can be enjoyed more productively on their own.
Rum prices have been moderate compared to many other brown spirits. For what?
For years, drinking rum has been most commonly associated with vintage cocktails (mojito, rum and coke, piña colada) depending on wonderful mixability and shared moments of laughter. Thus, even in 2021, 94% of rum volume is in the popular and economy segments ($22. 49 and under). On the other hand, these segments constitute 57. 4% for the whiskey/whisky category, a category basically related to a moment of praise and consumption “on the rocks”. As rum has evolved and we see a developing trend towards premium quality, as a category we are challenged to replace the belief in rum in the coming years from a mixable spirit used in cocktails to a superior quality of distinction. So in the long run, more premium rum drinking delights and inventions will come about by harnessing terroir, aging process and barrel types. This will foster a higher sense of knowledge and appreciation for the rum made and create more premium rum enthusiasts as they discover the craftsmanship and uniqueness of rums around the world. In the years to come, dark rum will continue to revel in expansion in higher value grades with a CAGR from 2021 to 2026 of 7%, 13%, 6%. 11% respectively in the super premium, ultra premium, prestige and prestige plus segments.
Scotch whisky and bourbon are advertised in small batches and finished in special barrels. Does Botran have such intentions?
The use of special barrels has been our specialty since 1940 and is a unique feature of our dynamic aging system. We use up to 4 special barrels for our No. 18 and No. 15, 3 special barrels for our No. 12 and No. 8 and two special barrels for our Reserva Blanca.
However, we have taken our mastery of rum to another level by launching a Rare Blend bottling. These are limited editions that come with Ron Botran finished in a special fifth barrel. More recently, we introduced Botran Rare Blend Guatemalan Oak (for the European market). market) and Botran Rare Blend Vintage Wine Cask (for retail sale), which featured a blend of aged rums from 8 to 25 years that were finished in a very special cask. Rare Blend is currently only targeted at certain markets.
With the Caribbean so hot and humid, does the climate replace the plantations?
Climate has an effect on plantings, basically through the change of harvest seasons. However, we use generation and paints with the Guatemalan Climate Change Institute to plan and continue to supply the best quality that our protected designation of origin represents: Ron de Guatemala.
What are the threats of hurricanes?
Hurricanes are unprecedented events that rarely occur in the southern region of Guatemala. To this day, we have never been directly affected by such a natural threat, as our facilities are located in exactly this part of the country.
In which countries is Botran sold?
In addition to the United States, you can Ron Botran in more than 50 countries such as Guatemala, El Salvador, France, Italy, Mexico, Spain, Germany, Peru, Costa Rica, Colombia, Czech Republic, Panama, Croatia, Holland, Denmark, Canada, Honduras, Sweden, Israel, Belgium, Switzerland, Australia, Greece, etc.