Don Papa Small Batch Rum

About Don Papa Small Batch Rum 

Don Papa Rum is a genuine premium Filipino rum, made on a single island in the Philippines, Negros Occidental, known colloquially as Sugarlandia. 

Filipino sugarcane is naturally sweeter than its Caribbean cousins. Which is what gives Don Papa its renowned rich, fruity taste and candy sweetness. 

Now you can put a new spin on all your favorite rum cocktails with Don Papa’s distinctive flavor. Or try it over a single ice cube, as its inherently sweet profile makes it a natural sipper.

Tasting Notes

The nose is light and fruity. On the palate, notes of vanilla, honey, and candied fruit. A long, textured finish. 

Suggested Serves

Can’t go wrong with a Daiquiri.  Consider cutting back the standard .5 oz simple syrup to .25 oz, if you like the tartness of the lime to really sing.

For something in the vein of the more unusual, a Papa Negroni subs rum for the classic gin. Then, garnish with a sprig of rosemary and a grapefruit wedge.

Don Papa Small Batch Rum Production Notes

Don Papa rum is made from start to finish in the Philippines, which has a more than 150 year old tradition of distilling rum. 

It begins with the sugarcane. Grown in the Philippines for centuries, sugarcane is harvested in May, cut by hand using traditional methods. The on-island mill crushes and grinds the cane, yielding a rich, sweet molasses.

This vivid fruity molasses is fermented and column distilled at between 91% to 98% in Bago Distillery. The distillery is located in the provincial capital of Negros Occidental, known locally as .

The rum distillation is brought down to 65 degrees using fresh spring water and then aged in ex-American Bourbon oak barrels for 7 years. The barrels are unique to Don Papa. Made from tight grain oak, they are seasoned, toasted and lightly charred, accentuating the fruit and vanilla notes.

The rum is aged in the foothills of Mount Kanlaon where a hot, humid climate means faster maturation; “Angel’s Share” can reach up to 8%. After 7 long years, the rum barrels are carefully selected and blended by Don Papa’s master blender.

Origin Story

Don Papa’s name was inspired by Papa Isio, and is a homage to his fighting spirit. Don Papa was one of the leading figures of the Philippine revolution in Negros. He organized a group fighting for freedom from Spanish colonizers in 1896 and played a key role in driving them off the island, which was all too briefly declared an independent republic.

Following the American invasion in 1898, Papa Isio took to the hills and fought on. He was one of the last major fighters to surrender in 1907. 

Terroir

The Philippines, an archipelago made of more than 7000 islands, is situated in the Western Pacific ocean, on the same latitude as Venezuela and the Southern Caribbean islands. 

Located in the Ring of Fire, it is one of the most volcanic regions on earth. It has a tropical wet climate with heavy monsoon rains from May to October.

Negros Occidental is the fourth largest island in the country, similar in size to Jamaica. It is known locally as “Sugarlandia” and produces most of the country’s sugar supply. At the the heart of the island lies Mount Kanlaon, an active volcano, which produces the island’s rich volcanic soil in which the sugarcane is grown. 

 750ml & 80 Proof