La Progresiva
La Progresiva is a rum that was created in 2019, as part of a collaboration between The Island Rum Company and the Cuban government. It is produced and aged at the Vigia distillery in Ciego de Avila province. Operations are overseen by cellar master Martha San Nicolas.
It's a rum that's faithful to Cuban tradition, whose principles have been exemplified around the world.
Sugar cane is harvested exclusively in Cuba, during a harvest (" zafra ") that runs from December to May. Sugar is then produced from the cane juice, and the molasses that remains after this operation is harvested. This molasses is then fermented in two different ways, depending on what is to be distilled: alcohol or aguardiente.
Distillation takes place in a copper column, and two distillates are obtained. The aguardiente is the fuller-bodied, concentrating a maximum of aromas. It leaves the column at 74-76% alcohol, while the alcohol, which is virtually neutral, runs off at 96%.
Aguardiente is aged in ex-bourbon casks for 1 to 2 years. At the end of this first stage, the aguardiente is diluted in various concentrations with alcohol and water. This produces what are known as " rum bases ", which are then aged in used casks.
Rum La Progresiva is a blend (" mezcla ") of two rum bases of different ages, with a weighted average age of 13 years. Read less
