Q: WHY WAS SANTA TERESA 1796 CREATED?
A: In 1996, to commemorate The Hacienda's Bicentennial, Alberto Vollmer Herrera challenged the company to develop a rum that could leverage all of the rum-making mastery and craftsmanship learned in the first 200 years. The outcome was Santa Teresa 1796, the world's first super premium rum producing using the complex Solera method. The result is a rum with a rich, refined and unexpectedly dry taste.
Q: WHY IS IT CALLED SANTA TERESA 1796?
A: Because the Hacienda Santa Teresa was founded in 1796. The product was launched in 1996 to celebrate the 200th anniversary.
Q: HOW OLD IS SANTA TERESA 1796 RUM?
A: This rum is not about years, it's about blends. Santa Teresa 1796 is a blend of different types of rums (mature, young, light, heavy, and pot still) between 4 and up to 35 years that, once mixed, finishes its maturation in the Solera established in 1992
The Bodega Solera, where the Mother Rum rests since 1992. In 2017, Bodega Solera celebrated its 25th anniversary.
Q: CAN SANTA TERESA RUM BE CONSIDERED VEGAN OR ORGANIC?
A: Santa Teresa products are 100% vegan according the "LISAEA" regulation (articles 2 and 3), since it does not consider animal derivatives. In its productive process it only acquires flavors of wood-time (aging), and sugar-molasses derived 100% from the sugarcane.
Keep in mind that vegan does not necessarily cover that it is a 100% organic product. We still use fertilizer for the sugar cane cultivation. We are evaluating ways to not use it anymore.
Q: HOW TO DRINK SANTA TERESA 1796?
A: Santa Teresa 1796 is a rich, refined and dry taste rum, with a wide range of nuances and flavors that can be tasted taking it alone, with ice. Additionally, you can add a "splash" of sparkling water (Perrier or San Pellegrino type) and an orange twist. When hydrated slightly, the rum opens up showing its nuances. The water and its carbon give it sparkle and a mineral touch so that the glass is even more balanced, easier to enjoy, share and repeat. The Pot Still rum provides, among other nuances, chocolate notes that develop in the aging and finally become clearer in the Solera. The orange twist brings freshness, evokes the tropics and highlights the fruity notes of rum, also creating a harmony with bitter chocolate notes See cocktails
Q: WHAT ARE THE RECOMMENDED WAYS TO DRINK SANTA TERESA 1796?
A: Neat
On the rocks (2 ices cubes only)
With a splash of sparkling water (not too salty) and an orange peel twist as garnish
Spirit forward cocktails like: Rum Old-Fashioned, Rum Negroni, etc.
Q: WHAT IS DOC?
A: “Denominación de Origen Controlado” (Controlled Denomination of Origin).
It is the term to certify that a product comes from a geographical origin and has met the minimum quality requirements following the technical production rules to be included in its denomination.
A product in order to be called RUM in Venezuela, must have a minimum of 2 years of aging, minimum of 40% ABV and the authenticity of the origin and traceability of the ingredients.
Q: WHAT IS THE SOLERA METHOD?
A: The Solera method was invented in Spain around the 15th century with the purpose to standardize the final product for sherry production; the grapes came from a great variety of origins and brought different flavors to the blend. The idea was to reduce as much as possible the variations when introducing the new Solera re-fill. The goal is the same when we make Santa Teresa 1796.
Although the Solera process offers aging as well, its main purpose is not that. Its principal objective is to make sure that all the varied flavors and aromas coming from a very complex production process are merged in a liquid that is consistent, that it does not change much from the original production and that offers the opportunity to enjoy all that complexity in this rum that is truly round and balanced. All those flavors and aromas do come up in the glass, but not at the same time, it evolves, it changes, but it does without losing that balance.
The crucial element of Santa Teresa 1796 solera method is that 100% of the liquid that makes up the blend goes through all the solera process vs. other brands in which not all the blend goes through the solera method.
Our solera system consists of four rows of barrels – the barrels are only ever half-emptied, and each row is topped up by the liquid from the barrels in the row above. This means we never empty barrels, and a portion of the original blend is present in every bottle.
Q: DOES SANTA TERESA 1796 HAS ADDED SUGAR?
A: Santa Teresa 1796 is a rich and refined rum with a dry finish. Independent measurements made with hydrometers have determined that Santa Teresa 1796 contains maximum 4 grams of sugar per liter vs other super premium brands containing up to 20 grams of sugar.
Q: DOES SANTA TERESA 1796 HAS ADDITIVES?
A: Santa Teresa 1796 does not contain any additive that alters or enhances its flavor.
Santa Teresa 1796 is a very complex rum that offers a great variety of aromas and flavors, all of them fruit of the congeneric that are formed in the process of continuous fermentation and that are then concentrated in the distillation processes by column and still.
The distillates of Santa Teresa, mainly the heavy alcohol and pot still artisanal alcohol are very rich in congeners that develop during the aging process and become clearer in the Solera.
Additionally, the second-use American white oak barrels (ex-American whiskey), also provide colors, smells and flavors.
Q: WHAT MAKES SANTA TERESA 1796 A UNIQUE RUM/ DRINKING EXPERIENCE?
A: Given its full complexity of flavors and aromas, Santa Teresa 1796 has three characteristics that surprise the drinker:
First it is smooth, although it has 40% alcohol by volume, you can appreciate the flavors pleasantly without feeling a burning sensation.
Second, after an initial sweet aroma, the taste brings a very short sweet entry to welcome the liquid into your palate but almost immediately, the sweetness dissipates, giving way to drier, nuanced flavors that allow you to enjoy it without becoming cloying or overly sweet.
Last but not least, it has a long finish, the sensation of the rum lingers on the palate, a longer-lasting experience that is associated with high quality spirits.
Whatever the occasion, what Santa Teresa 1796 will guarantee is that you will enjoy a rum that is smooth, dry and balanced, that evolves in every sip (constantly changing and bringing new elements to the palate). On the contrary, most rums will taste the same from the start to the end.
Q: WHAT IS THE ROLE OF RUGBY?
A: Rugby connects all the aspects and facets of the brand in a way consistently with our essence, character and purpose, it makes our values tangible. it is used as a main transformational tool for the brand social programs and can be clearly evidenced on any visit to the Hacienda Santa Teresa.
Boldness, strength, elegance, commitment, authenticity, resilience and sense of humor, are personality traits associated with this “thug’s game played by gentlemen”.
Humility, integrity, passion, solidarity, teamwork, respect, enjoyment, discipline, and sportsmanship are the values that really bring the sport and the brand together, giving the connection a deeper layer of meaning.
This sport is full of rituals and traditions – the “third half”, is a space used by opposing teams after the game for bonding, networking, cultivating friendship and ideally to share our rum.
To learn more about Proyecto Alcatraz please go to https://fundacionsantateresa.org/en/
Q: WHAT ARE SANTA TERESA 1796 LATEST AWARDS?
Santa Teresa 1796 has been awarded with more than 60 international competitions. Below the latest ones:
A: INCLUIR LAS ULTIAMS COMPETENCIAS
2021: Gold Medal - London Spirits Competition 2021
2021: Silver Medal - San Francisco World Spirits Competition WSC
2021: Silver Medal - International Wine & Spirits Competition (IWSC)
2021: Silver Medal - The Beverage Tasting Institute Chicago 2021
2021: Silver Medal - New York Spirits Competition 2021
2021: Great Gold - VIRTUS Lisboa 2021
2021: Gold - USA Spirits Ratings 2021
2020: Gold Medal - San Francisco World Spirits Competition WSC
2020: Venezuela Rum of the Year - Berlin ISC 2020
2020: Silver Medal - Berlin ISC 2020
2020: Silver Medal -London Spirits 2020
2020: Bronze Medal -London IWSC 2020
2020: Gold Medal - London International Spirits Challenge 2020
2020: Silver Medal IWSC Cathay Pacific Hong Kong 2020
2019: Gold Medal - Los Angeles International Spirits Competition
2019: Gold Medal - International Review of Spirits
2019: Silver Medal - Asia International Spirits Competition
2019: Silver Medal - International Spirits Challenge
2018: Double Gold Medal - Madrid International Rum Conference
2016: Gold Medal - San Francisco Wine & Spirits Competition, Aged Rum Category
2016: Gold Medal - Madrid International Rum Conference, Extra Aged Rum