El Supremo

El Supremo is a Paraguayan honey cane rum, named after an early 19th century statesman who was a staunch defender of the country's independence. José Gaspar Rodríguez de Francia was nicknamed "El Supremo" in his capacity as "Supreme and Perpetual Dictator". Although tyrannical, he had the merit of allowing the people to eat their fill, to live in peace, and to have access to a minimum of education.

Au Paraguay, rum can be made from molasses or pure juice, but rum traditional which is called " Caña Paraguaya is distilled from cane honey.

The rum is produced byCAPASA (Caña Paraguayas SA), a state-run distillers' association. It is known in the local market for the brands Aristócrata and Parapití.

The production of El Supremo rum

The all-organic cane is cut by hand and then transported by "carreta", a traditional wooden cart. This method has remained unchanged since the early days of Spanish colonisation. Once the cane juice has been pressed, it is placed in open vats heated over an open fire. After 9 hours of cooking, the result is cane honey, the equivalent of English "grade A molasses" or the battery syrup of the French West Indies.

After distillation in a traditional alembic or in a column, the distillate undergoes a double maturation. The first part of the ageing process takes place in vats of brown incienso "yvyrá payé", a local essence. Then the rum is aged in smaller French oak barrels.

El Supremo 8 ans is the first rum in the range. It is smooth and flavourful, and carries some pleasant notes of fresh cane. El Supremo 12 Years is aged like its younger version entirely in a tropical climate. Its extra years of maturation give it more complexity and depth. Read less