El Supremo

El Supremo is a honey cane rum from Paraguay, named in honor of 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 enabling the people to eat their fill, live in peace, and have full access to a minimum of education.

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

This rum is produced by CAPASA (Caña Paraguayas SA), a state-run distillers' association. It is known on the local market for its Aristócrata and Parapití brands.

El Supremo rum production

The all-organic cane is cut by hand, then transported by "carreta", a traditional wooden cart. This method has remained unchanged since the early days of Spanish colonization. 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 column still, the distillate is matured twice. The first part of the ageing process takes place in vats of incienso marron "yvyrá payé", a local essence. Next, the rum is transferred to smaller French oak barrels.

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