Good rum has long been made in Venezuela, since 1870 the local drink has even won awards at international competitions. But until the middle of the XNUMXth century, all rum was produced handicraft, there was no question of any export or standardization. Pampero was the first Venezuelan rum to enter the global market. Today this brand is well known and loved on all continents. Most Pampero is sold in Venezuela, Spain and Italy.
Historical reference. In 1938, two friends, Alejandro Hernandez and Luis Toro, founded Industrias Pampero. To all appearances, the entrepreneurs had already set their sights on conquering the markets of neighboring states. The fact is that the word pampero, literally meaning “from the pampas”, is not in use in Venezuela. The endless plains where the herds graze are called “llanos” here. But for the inhabitants of Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay, pampero is a cold southwest wind that brings clouds of dust. Even now, when rum has become popular, Venezuelans prefer to call it Caballito Frenao (“Tamed Stallion”): the company’s logo depicts a cowboy on a rearing mustang.
The company first exported its rum in 1942. In the next 10 years, the drink began to be in such demand that the government, focusing on the quality of Pampero, by 1954 developed strict standards for Venezuelan rum:
- in Venezuela there is no concept of “young rum”. The minimum aging period for the drink is 2 years;
- out of 45 states of the Caribbean, only in Venezuela the age of rum is determined by aging not the oldest, but the youngest of the spirits in the blend;
- the manufacturer has the right to classify rum as añejo only if all spirits in the blend are at least 4 years old;
- The volume of oak barrels for aging rum is legally limited: the smaller the aging capacity, the better the taste of the drink.
The heirs of Senor Hernandez in 1991 sold the company for $45 million to the British company United Distillers, which since 1997 has become part of the Diageo concern. Thanks to this, the sales volume increased significantly, but the quality remained unchanged. Rum won several prizes at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition.
Pampero rum is made in the old Complejo Licorero del Centro factory. Señor Luis Figueroa, maestro roniero of the company, explains the great taste of the drink for three reasons:
- cane at the enterprise is processed during the day after cutting, while it is still full of juice;
- the drink is triple distilled;
- The Venezuelan climate is characterized by significant temperature fluctuations: from sweltering heat to prolonged rains and icy storm winds. Under such conditions, the taste of rum becomes more intense, and the drink ages 3 times faster than whiskey in Scotland.
Types of Pampero rum
There are 4 varieties of Pampero rum:
- Pampero Blanco (Añejo) is a colorless transparent rum with a strength of 37,5%, a mixture of spirits aged 2-4 years. During aging in oak bourbon barrels, the drink acquires a golden hue. To decolorize the rum, it is re-filtered. But at the same time, it retains a fruity aroma and a mild taste with notes of vanilla and creamy toffee. The drink is suitable for making cocktails;
- Pampero Especial (Añejo) – copper-golden color rum (40%), a mixture of rum spirits 4 years old. It became the first Venezuelan rum to be officially recognized as aged (añejo). Since then, Pampero Especial has served as the benchmark against which all Venezuelan rums are compared. The spicy taste is dominated by tones of ginger, cloves, cinnamon, oak, balanced by the freshness of lime peel and softened by the sweetness of creamy toffee. The aftertaste is spicy, creamy, with a slight bitterness of smoke.
- Pampero Anniversario Reserva Exclusiva is a premium rum, dark brown color (40%), a mixture of spirits aged 4–8 years. The drink was created in 1963, in honor of the 25th anniversary of the company. It is packaged in leather bags with an embossed company logo. Rum has a high viscosity (leaves “tears” on the walls of the glass). The drink smells of brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg and old oak. The taste is spicy, slightly oily and dry, with hints of tea and tobacco leaves and a sweet aftertaste of iris;
- Pampero Seleccion 1938 (Añejo) – premium rum, copper-brown color (40%), a blend of 10 rum spirits at least 4 years old. Master roniero Luis Figueroa created this drink in 2008 to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the company, and since then he has personally selected the best casks of old rum for the production of Pampero Seleccion 1938. Rum has the aroma of nutmeg and roasted hazelnuts, which is mixed with undertones of new leather and expensive tobacco. Spicy and burning aftertaste with a light oak bitterness is balanced by the delicate sweetness of vanilla. The finish is long, spicy, slightly oily.
