For over a decade, Jacob Lustig managed the tequila and mezcal portfolio of the largest liquor distributor in the United States. Lustig has had a lifetime of experience in the tequila industry: as a child, his family moved back and forth between San Francisco and Oaxaca, Mexico. Later, as a student at the University of California, Santa Cruz, Lustig studied the history of the Mexican liquor business. "My passion for nuanced and unique agave spirits began in southern Mexico during the early 1990s," says Jacob, "when I renovated a centuries-old Oaxacan mezcal distillery after concluding an intensive study of regional mezcal distillation and its myriad production configurables." As the manager of a tequila and mezcal portfolio, "I was able to work closely with over forty of Jalisco's finest tequila distilleries." Seleccin ArteNOM Tequila is the first and only company authorized by the Tequila Regulatory Council to bottle tequilas from different distilleries and release them under a single brand name. "A prevailing regulation in the tequila industry specifically prohibits the bottling of any brand in multiple locations, in order to assure aficionados consistent flavor and quality in their preferred mark," says Jacob, but after years of working with the Tequila Regulatory Council, Jacob was granted permission. Gratefully, the Seleccin ArteNOM Tequilas are now being applauded in both Mexico and the United States. ArteNOM Seleccion de 1414 Tequila Reposado is produced in Arandas, Jalisco (elevation: 5,400 feet) by master distiller Jos Manuel Vivanco at the Destileria El Ranchito. Vivanco is a fourth generation distiller his great, great grandfather began cultivating agave in the highlands of Jalisco just after the Mexican Revolution. Vivanco ferments his estate-grown agave using a natural indigenous-yeast that is found in and around his distillery. After twice-distilling the agave, Vivanco ages the tequila for four months in white American oak casks that were previously used to age bourbon. Seleccion de 1414 Tequila Reposado has notes of mature agave and banana bread, followed by a long, smooth finish with notes of honey, citrus and vanilla. Seleccin ArteNOM Tequila is the only project of its kind. 

Elijah Pepper began distilling whiskey at the dawn of the American Revolution and during the War of 1812, he built the first log cabin distillery in Versailles, Kentucky. Eventually, he passed the family business on to his son, Oscar, and then on to his grandson, James E. Pepper. Colonel James E. Pepper was one of Kentucky's first Bourbon aristocrats he raced thoroughbreds in the Kentucky Derby, traveled in a private rail car and made famous the Old Fashioned cocktail. "Pepper Whisky is an old fashioned whisky, made in the old time way from a formula used for more than 100 years by three generations of the Pepper family," wrote James, in an advertisement dated August 22, 1887. "We claim not only to make the oldest but absolutely the purest and best brand of whisky made in America, and we invite comparison with any whisky of any age." In 1958, after the whiskey industry fell on hard times, the James E. Pepper Distillery was forced to close its doors. During its tenure, Pepper Whiskey, or "Old 1776 Whiskey" as it became it known, was a favorite of Presidents Andrew Jackson and Ulysses S. Grant, and was preferred by Daniel Webster, a leading American statesman and senator from Massachusetts. "Before re-launching this iconic brand," says Amir Peay, "we did extensive research and spent years collecting and analyzing full, preserved bottles of original Pepper Whiskey." Peay even acquired a letter written by Pepper himself, detailing the exact mashbill and recipe used to create Old 1776. "We wanted to pay homage to Pepper's legacy and do our best to recreate the original Pepper Whiskey something that was part of American history," he says. James E. Pepper 1776 Straight Bourbon Whiskey is made from a mash of approximately 62% corn and malted barley, and 38% rye. After distillation, the bourbon is aged for a minimum of four years in new, American oak casks. As a result, it has slightly sweet hints of vanilla, toffee and caramel, that subtly compliment notes of baking spices, spicy rye and oak. James E. Pepper 1776 Bourbon Whiskey earned Double Gold Medal at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition in 2013. "We used the same traditional methods that Pepper championed in order to restore these whiskies," says Peay. 

Situated in the foothills of the Cascade Mountains, Ransom Distillery sits on a 40-acre farm just outside Sheridan, Oregon. The distillery, which opened its doors in 1997, was named after the funds required to start the business. "I had always wanted to start my own business," says Tad Seestedt, owner and master distiller at Ransom Spirits, "and I thought that Ransom was an appropriate name in that its definition is buying your freedom or independence with money. The money I had to borrow from the bank to start the business was my Ransom." Ransom Spirits' Old Tom Gin is a revival of the gins fashioned during the mid-19th century — the golden age of American cocktails. The recipe, which Seestedt developed in collaboration with famed historian and mixologist David Wondrich ("a living iPod of drink lore and recipes," according to The New York Times), actually begins with the distillation of whiskey. After mashing and fermenting malted barley, Seestedt distills the wash through his custom-designed 150-gallon copper pot still. Next, he infuses a separate grain-based distillate with a secret recipe of herbs and botanicals, including juniper, orange peel, lemon peel, coriander seed, angelica root and cardamom. The malted barley and grain-based distillates are then married together in the chamber of Seestedt's still and then distilled together. After distillation, Old Tom Gin is aged for 3-6 months before being brought to proof and bottled by hand. Old Tom Gin has initial notes of orange and lemon, which are wonderfully balanced by herbal undertones. The subtle, rounded flavors of the juniper, grains and hint of oak provided by the aging process add complexity and intrigue, and are followed by a malty, slightly sweet finish. Old Tom Gin earned the Gold Medal at the International Review of Spirits Competition and earned a score of 93 points from the Beverage Testing Institute. In addition, it earned a Gold Medal and the title "Best of Category" at the American Distilling Institute Competition in 2013.

Whisky Advocate’s Artisan Whiskey of the Year – The whis- key that put us on the map.

We use three individually smoked malts (cherrywood from Wisconsin, beechwood from Germany, and peat from Scotland) to craft this deep and complex whiskey. Using 3 distinct smokes provides consistent and balanced smoke from nose to the pallet and throughout the finish.

Corsair never uses artificial flavors or colors, achieving superior flavor and color through quality malted barley, innovative distillation and small barrel maturation.

 Tasting Notes

Smoke and notes of cherry pervade the palate, finished by a slight brininess from the mossy peat. Pot distilled then aged in new American charred oak, Triple Smoke has the sweetness of an American whiskey with the rich smoke of an Islay single malt scotch.

Barr Hill Vodka is our tribute to the hardworking beekeepers. In late summer, we take delivery of hundreds of barrels of their pure raw honey. Their season’s work is what makes our vodka truly special. Our recipe depends on two simple principles: we never heat the honey prior to fermentation and we never distill more than twice. Our technique preserves the wild yeast and the rich aromatics of nectar - delivering the floral depth of wildflower fields straight to your glass.

Bull Run Straight Bourbon Whiskey is a notable expression that exemplifies the craftsmanship and dedication of the Bull Run Distillery, located in Portland, Oregon. This small-batch bourbon is a testament to the distillery's commitment to producing exceptional spirits with a focus on quality and attention to detail.

Crafted using traditional methods and carefully selected ingredients, Bull Run Straight Bourbon Whiskey offers a captivating experience for whiskey enthusiasts. The mash bill is composed of a combination of corn, rye, and malted barley, creating a well-balanced flavor profile that showcases both sweetness and spice.

The aging process is a critical component in the creation of this bourbon. Bull Run Straight Bourbon Whiskey is carefully matured in charred American oak barrels, allowing the spirit to develop complexity and depth over time. The interaction between the whiskey and the wood imparts rich flavors, including notes of vanilla, caramel, and toasted oak.

Upon tasting, Bull Run Straight Bourbon Whiskey reveals its full-bodied nature and smooth character. The palate is greeted with a harmonious blend of flavors, combining the sweetness of corn with the spiciness of rye, while hints of dried fruits and baking spices add layers of complexity. The whiskey's well-integrated oak influence and balanced mouthfeel contribute to a satisfying drinking experience.

Bull Run Straight Bourbon Whiskey is a versatile spirit that can be enjoyed neat, on the rocks, or as the foundation for classic bourbon cocktails. Its exceptional quality and craftsmanship make it suitable for savoring moments of relaxation or for sharing with fellow whiskey enthusiasts.

Named after a dark, mystical owl represented in ancient Mexican folklore, El Buho Mezcal represents a new breed of agave spirits. Mezcal is often referred to as the grandfather of tequila because it's centuries older, but that's not completely accurate tequila is made from blue agave near Tequila, Mexico, while mezcal can be made from agave grown elsewhere in Mexico. El Buho Mezcal, made from agave grown in Oaxaca, Mexico the birthplace of mezcal is produced by a fifth-generation family of mezcal distillers. Near the El Buho farm in Oaxaca, espadin agave plants that are nearly a decade old are hand-selected by expert jimadors who determine exactly when each plant is perfectly ripened and ready to harvest.The hearts of the agave, or pias, are then slowly roasted in a stone pit fire between Oaxacan earth and local mesquite for an entire week, before they are crushed under a tahona (a stone mill). After the resulting mash is fermented, it is double pot distilled in the same alembic still that the first generation of El Buho Mezcal producers used. Crisp, smooth and incredibly approachable, El Buho is a mezcal without pretense. In Oaxaca, the locals say para todo mal, mezcal, para todo bien, tambin.It means for everything bad mezcal; for everything good, too. 

Founded as a dry community, Evanston, Illinois was the birthplace of the Women's Temperance Movement and home to Frances Elizabeth Willard, an influential protagonist in the story of Prohibition. As the Temperance Movement approached a boiling point, abstinence slowly began to creep across the country and Willard and her league of temperance supporters turned Evanston into a stronghold. For over 100 years, Evanston remained a dry town. It wasn't until Paul Hletko, owner and master distiller at Few Spirits, began lobbying the town that the antiquated laws were lifted. "I'm the vice president of the PTA at my kids' school and I coach their soccer and T-ball teams," Hletko says. "People around town know me and what I'm about, which is handy when you're looking to change 100 years of laws." Today, hidden down a dark alley in a former chop shop, Hletko and his skilled team are producing another batch of Few Spirits American Gin. The gin is crafted from a mash of corn, wheat and unmalted barley, which are infused with eleven unique botanicals, including juniper, citrus lemon and orange peel, Tahitian vanilla, cassia, grains-of-paradise and home-grown hops. As a result, the gin has a bold citrusy flavor profile, with notes of spicy ginger and earthy botanicals that complement a subtle hint of juniper. Once the botanicals have been infused, the gin is bottled at 80 proof. Few American Gin earned the Silver Medal at the International Review of Spirits Competition in 2011, and the San Francisco World Spirits Competition in 2012.

Situated over 1,000 feet above sea level in southwestern Guatemala, the Ron Zacapa Plantation enjoys generous amount of sunlight and mineral-rich, volcanic soils, making it ideal for the cultivation of fresh, raw sugar cane. There, expert farmers many of whom have been tending to the land for decades carefully analyze the sugar cane as it matures on the estate, harvesting only the canes that contain high levels of sucrose and fiber and low levels of impurities. While most rums are made using molasses, which is a byproduct of refining sugar cane, Ron Zacapa Rum is made using virgin sugar cane honey. The virgin sugar cane honey is extracted from the first pressing of raw sugar cane harvested on the Zacapa Plantation, and lends a luxurious, smooth texture to the rum. Once the honey has been extracted, it is fermented with a unique strain of pineapple yeast before being distilled through a single column still lined with copper. Following distillation, Ron Zacapa XO Solera Gran Reserva Especial is solera-aged through a series of casks that were previously used to mature bourbon, sherry and Pedro Ximenez wine. Solera aging is a process that has generally been reserved for aging cognacs, ports and sherries. It involves filling a series of casks at different intervals over a long period of time. As rum from the oldest cask is emptied and bottled, the cask is re-filled with an equivalent amount of rum from the second-oldest cask in the solera. This cascading effect continues until the youngest cask in the solera is filled with new rum. As a result, no cask in the solera is ever fully emptied. In addition, as the younger rum cascades through the solera, its average age and complexity gradually increases over time. Ron Zacapa XO is crafted from a marriage of rums that have been solera-aged and are up to twenty-five years old. In addition, the rum is finished in French oak barrels that were previously used to mature cognac. As a result, the rum has an intense mahogany color, along with an aroma of leather, burnt caramel, roasted nuts and orange zest. The aroma gives way to notes of tobacco, cherries, chocolate, dates and figs on the palate, and leads to a long, semi-sweet finish accented by notes of raisins, vanilla and cinnamon. Ron Zacapa XO was named one of the Top 10 Spirits of the Year by Gayot, and was named the Best Sipping Rum by Gear Patrol. In addition, it was named one of the Ten Best Choices for National Rum Day by Forbes.

Zacapa XO is a unique balance of complex aromas and flavors resulting from the exclusive blend of reserve rums. We hand-select rums aged between 10 and 25 years in the “Sistema Solera.” Older and younger rums are then blended as they age in a sequence of barrels that previously stored robust American whiskeys, delicate Sherries, fine Pedro Ximénez wines and finished in French oak casks which previously aged Cognac. Zacapa XO is best enjoyed neat or on the rocks and pairs beautifully with dark chocolate and desserts.

TASTING NOTES

NOSE: Balance of mature toasted oak, burnt caramel, dry roasted nuts, marzipan and orange peel with a delicate fruit deep note at the end.

TASTE: Balance of sweetness, fruit, spice and spirit. Long, smooth and sweet with dark cherry, chocolate, date, prune with sweet oak spices of clove, vanilla and cinnamon.

FINISH: Lighter notes of dried mango, raspberry and ginger on the finish.

Our most popular whisky!  Roundstone Rye® is a very unique rye whisky, made completely from scratch at our distillery in Purcellville, Virginia.  This pre-Prohibition style rye whisky is made from 100% rye grain, sourced locally when available.  It is mashed, fermented, distilled and aged completely in our distillery, before bottling it at a very sippable 80 proof.  Aged in new charred white oak casks for a period of around two years, the whisky is smooth, woody, with that full-bodied fruity-nutty grain flavor typical of a Virginia rye whisky. Roundstone Rye has a delicious woody taste, with notes of caramel, rich butter toffee, and just a hint of lemon in the nose.

Roundstone Rye is a superb sipping whisky, a great whisky in Manhattans, or your favorite rye whisky cocktails.

AWARDS

Double Gold Medal

– New York World Wine and Spirits Competition, September 23, 2018

Gold Medal

– The Good Food Awards, January 19, 2018

– F. Paul Pacult's Spirit Journal, September 2016

– American Craft Spirits, September 22, 2010

Silver Medal 

– Beverage Testing Institute, February 24, 2011

– Paste Magazine, November 20, 2017

– Paste Magazine, September 19, 2015

– Men's Journal, September 3, 2014

– Modern Distillery Age, November 25, 2011

As the first vodka approved to wear the Idaho Potato Commission’s official seal, our naturally gluten free Mountain Huckleberry Flavored Vodka is the ideal spirit for drinking chilled, straight-up, on the rocks, or in an infinite range of signature cocktails.

Mountain Huckleberries are a high elevation wild berry and the state fruit of Idaho. 44º North® Vodka blends them with quality Potato Vodka for a rich, natural flavor.

Our Potato Vodka is naturally gluten free and is distilled using a five-column distillation process from 100% Potato neutral spirits and blended with Rocky Mountain water from the Snake River Aquifer.

For the Willett family, distilling craft whiskey is a family tradition. During Reconstruction, John David Willett the family patriarch began distilling whiskey at the Moore, Willett & Frenke Distillery, which was situated just outside of Louisville, Kentucky. In 1898, his son, A. Lambert Willett who was 15 years old at the time began following in his father's footsteps. Three decades later, Lambert, together with his son, Thompson, purchased a farm on the outskirts of Bardstown, Kentucky, and began construction of the Willett Distilling Company. While the Willett Distilling Company eventually changed its name to Kentucky Bourbon Distillers, the family tradition lives on Even Kulsveen, the current owner of KBD, is Thompson Willett's son-in-law. In keeping with family tradition, Pure Kentucky XO Small Batch Straight Bourbon Whiskey is an authentic Kentucky straight bourbon. Aged for about twelve years ("XO" meaning "extra old"), Pure Kentucky is bottled at an unusually robust proof of 107, yet is remarkably smooth and drinkable. The bourbon has an intense aroma of sweet vanilla, cedar and oak. The aroma yields to notes of spicy rye, vanilla and maple syrup, with hints of cherry. The slightly salty finish is long and smooth, with continued vanilla notes. Pure Kentucky won the Double Gold Medal at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition, and is highly recommended by F. Paul Pacult's Spirit Journal. With its combination of age, taste and proof making it an unparalleled value, Pure Kentucky XO Small Batch Straight Bourbon Whiskey is one of the best kept secrets on the whiskey market.

Situated in Seattle's Capitol Hill Neighborhood, Oola Distillery was founded by Kirby Kallas-Lewis as "a labor of love, intellectual curiosity and commitment to the neighborhood." "All our grains are sourced from two organic farms in Eastern Washington," says Kirby. In addition, the use of wheat in the bourbon's mashbill "allows me to hold back on the corn and add more rye. This results in a more complex, balanced and less overly sweet bourbon."Once the ingredients arrive at the distillery, they are milled and mashed before being distilled through Kirby's copper-pot still. Following distillation, the bourbon is matured in small, American white oak casks that are subjected to large temperature swings of up to 50-70 each day. "The idea is to extract a lot of the influence from the barrel early on in the aging process." After this initial beauty rest, the bourbon is transferred to 53-gallon, American white oak casks that boast an alligator char. The alligator char allows the whiskey to penetrate the wood, which hails from the Ozark Mountains of Arkansas, up to a inch. There, the bourbon rests for an additional three to four years. "These casks are then combined to marry together subtle flavors that compliment each other usually two barrels are married together, but sometimes 3 or 4 work best to get to the optimum flavor profile before bottling."Once the barrels have been blended, the bourbon is bottled without the use of chill filtration. "We want the full richness of the nose and flavor profile to stay as intact as possible," says Kirby. Oola Waitsburg Bourbon has a spicy aroma, with touches of cinnamon, ginger and black peppercorn that give way to notes of caramel, vanilla, olives, dill pickles and chutney on the palate. The finish is warm and balanced, with hints of honey and oak spices complementing each other. The bourbon was "highly recommended" by the Beverage Testing Institute, and has a "pleasingly long and mellow finish," according to the Capitol Hill Times. In addition, it earned the Gold Medal at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition in 2013 and the Silver Medal at the Beverage Testing Institute Competition in 2012. Pick up a bottle today!

DESCRIPTION
A combination of straight rye whiskey, a pinch of rock candy, raw honey, navel oranges and importantly, Angostura Bitters, it's like drinking the perfect Old Fashioned. Just pour over ice and enjoy. 

TASTING NOTES: Hints of citrus, honey, spice and bitters.

Sunnyslope Nectarine Flavored Vodka is our newest naturally gluten free variety that delivers a uniquely vibrant and refreshing taste. It’s named after the Sunnyslope region of Idaho famed for its fruit orchards and long Idaho summer days. Sunnyslope Nectarine is perfect on the rocks, straight up, or in a signature cocktail.

Our Potato Vodka is naturally gluten free and is distilled using a five-column distillation process from 100% Potato neutral spirits and blended with Rocky Mountain water from the Snake River Aquifer.

Similar to a peach, Nectarines are a “stone” fruit known for their fresh and crisp taste. They’re grown throughout the warmer temperate regions of both the Northern and Southern hemispheres. 44º North® blends them with smooth Potato Vodka for a rich, natural flavor.

During the 17th century, the Madeira archipelago (situated just 200 miles north of the Canary Islands off the coast of Africa) was the major exporter of sugar and sugar cane to much of Portugal and the remainder of Western Europe. As Algerian pirates began raiding European cargo ships in the 18th century, and Napoleon began plunged Europe into a series of wars, the waters off the coast of the Madeira archipelago became too dangerous, and the production of sugar cane, as well as cachaa a spirit distilled from sugar cane shifted to Brazil. Since then, cachaa has become the most popular spirit in Brazil and the third most-popular spirit in the world. Yaguara Cachaa is crafted by a fifth-generation family of cachaa producers, situated in the heart of Brazil. After the stalks of organic sugarcane grow as high twelve feet on the family's estate, expert farmers tenderly harvest the crops by hand using a machete. Then, the sugarcane is pressed and the resulting pulp slowly fermented using a family yeast recipe that has been passed down for nearly two hundred years. Following distillation, the cachaa is distilled through a 750-liter copper alembic still before being expertly blended together by Master Blender Erwin Weimann, who has over four decades of experience in the cachaa industry. As a result of his expertise, Yaguara Cachaa has a golden green hue, along with an aroma of overripe bananas, papayas and dried apricots. The aroma gives way to notes of chamomile, lentils, limes and lemongrass on the palate, and yields to a finish accented by touches of ginger and crushed red pepper. Yaguara Cachaa is gluten-free and was just released in the United States.

The principal author of the Declaration of Independence and one of the greatest Founding Fathers, Thomas Jefferson was elected the third President of the United States in 1800. During his tenure, Jefferson authorized the purchase of the Louisiana Territory, dispatched Lewis and Clark westward in order to explore the remainder of the continent and repealed the Whisky Excise Tax. After Jefferson retired from public office in 1815, he often tended to the garden that he had cultivated on his Monticello estate. At the time, it was customary for wealthy farmers, including Jefferson, to distill the excess grains they harvested from their farms into spirits (George Washington was one of the country's largest distillers of rye whiskey). As a result, each farmer's spirits were unique and reflected the local terrior of their farm. Made in collaboration with Chef Edward Lee of 610 Magnolia and Milkwood restaurants in Louisville, Jefferson's Chef Collaboration Straight Whiskey pays homage to the spirits Jefferson distilled over two centuries ago. "We started to think about what foods would pair well with bourbon," says Trey Zoeller, Jefferson's founder and master blender. "When we started to think about pairing whiskey with some dishes from Chef Lee's cookbook pork dishes, spicier dishes, and his fried chicken particularly it really came together." Crafted from a blend of straight bourbon and rye whiskies, Jefferson's Chef Collaboration has an aroma of cherry, dried citrus and oak that gives way to notes of buttered biscuits, peaches and tart apples on the palate. Subtle touches of rye bread and spicy oak tannins linger, and lead to a finish accented by touches of citrus and cloves. We have only a handful of bottles of this whiskey available.

Built in 1869 with an iron frame and a wooden hull, the Cutty Sark is a British clipper ship that was designed to transport tea from from China to London. At the time of its construction, the tea trade was intensely competitive and substantial bonuses were paid to ships that arrived in London with the first tea of the year. As a result, the Cutty Sark was engineered to be one of the fastest ships in the world, logging a maximum speed of 17.5 knots. The ship's name was derived from the nickname of Nannie Dee, a witch in Robert Burns' poem Tam o'Shaner. Cutty Sark Scotch Whisky is produced by Edrington of Glasgow, whose main offices are fewer than 10 miles away from the birthplace of the clipper. Cutty Sark Prohibition Edition pays homage to Captain William McCoy, who smuggled Cutty Sark whisky into the United States during Prohibition. His reputation for dealing with unadulterated liquor (at the time, many bootleggers mixed their spirits with other liquids in order to increase yield) gave rise to the Cutty Sark being referred to as "The Real McCoy." Cutty Sark Prohibition Edition Scotch Whisky is crafted from a blend of the finest single malts and top-quality grain whiskies available in Scotland, including whiskies sourced from The Macallan and Highland Park. Once the whiskies were identified, they were married together in hand selected American oak casks and then brought to 100 proof before being bottled. As a result, the whisky has a golden honey color, along with an aroma of ripe citrus, orange zest and fragrant spices. The aroma gives way to notes of toffee, creamy vanilla, pepper and coffee beans on the palate, and leads to a finish accented by touches of oak spices and sweet fruit. "This blend is created with exact precision as Captain McCoy himself would approve to celebrate the 80th anniversary of such a significant era," says Kirsteen Campbell, the distillery's Master Blender. Pick up a bottle today!

Established in 1836 on Recherlich Farm in Scotland's Speyside, Glenfarclas Distillery has a storied past. Bought by John Grant in 1865, it's now run by George S. Grant, the sixth generation owner. Known for its traditional methods, they use direct-heated stills for their acclaimed Glenfarclas 17 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky.

Crafted from barley steeped in water from Ben Rinnes mountain, this whisky matures for 17 years in ex-bourbon and ex-sherry casks from Spain. Its profile boasts butterscotch, cherries, honeyed oak, and a finish hinting at vanilla and coffee. Honored with a 93-point score from Wine Enthusiast, the Beverage Testing Institute, and a Double Gold Medal at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition.

In 1751, Severo Arango Y Ferro journeyed from Spain to the port city of Cartagena, situated in northern Colombia. Ferro had been sent to Columbia by the King, and was asked to establish and oversee commercial trading activities between Spain and its American colonies. Ferro proved himself to be an able and ruthless statesman and under his leadership, the city of Cartagena became a hub of economic activity and the most important port for the Spanish fleet in the Americas. Ferro's strength and power also earned him the nickname "Dictador." Dictador was partial to a variety of rums that were being distilled in the Caribbean at the time, many of which passed through Cartagena on their way to Spain. In 1913, over 150 years after Ferro initially arrived in Colombia, one of his descendants established Destileria Columbiana. Today, the distillery honors the legacy of its founding ancestors with Dictador Rum. Dictador XO Perpetual Solera System Rum is crafted from virgin sugar cane juice, which is fermented and then distilled through an antique alembic copper still. Following distillation, the rum is aged solera aged through a series of casks that were previously used to mature bourbon. As a result, Dictador Perpetual has an aroma of butterscotch, toffee, espresso beans and milk chocolate that gives way to notes of tropical fruits and citrus on the palate. The finish is long and complex, with sweet notes of caramel and vanilla mingled against spicy touches of pepper and oak. Dictador Perpetual also earned the Silver Medal at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition in 2012.