“Love Letter to Guatemalan Terroir” Introducing A 100% Single-Source Guatemalan Rum

(Photo: Tenango Rum)

Recently Tenango Rum from Guatemala has come onto the scene. Tenango is a Latina-owned heritage rum brand that aims to redefine the rum landscape through culture and empowerment and the creation of sustainable income for the next generation of Guatemalan women.  

Tenago is the brainchild of Sofia Deleon, a native Guatemalan and the restauranteur behind the Central American street food concept El Merkury. Deleon created Tenango in honor of her great-grandmother after being inspired by stories of her distilling Cusha, a traditional Guatemalan moonshine, at home.

“I grew up hearing stories about my revered Tatarabuela, and have always felt connected to her. I am sure it is where I get my entrepreneurial spirit!” said Deleon, owner of Tenango Rum. “It is in her honor that I founded the brand with the mission to reshape the world’s perception of rum and create a lasting impact on the lives of Guatemalan women and their families. I believe that culture and heritage should be at the heart of every sip, and that by honoring the traditions of our ancestors, we can redefine the rum landscape.”

A 100% single-source Guatemalan rum, Tenango Rum is made from Grade A molasses aged in ex-whiskey American White Oak barrels and is additive-free. It is single source rum meaning that all of the ingredients originate in the same locale. The rum is distilled in the traditional Spanish style method on a column still typical of Guatemalan rums. Tenango is meant to represent a true taste of the country as every aspect and ingredient of Tenango is Guatemalan including the sugarcane used to make the molasses. The entire process takes place in the Central American country from the fermentation, aging and bottling.

Tenango celebrates local culture and the launch aims to support in the empowerment of Guatemalan communities by employing women and craftspeople to hand-make the vibrant covers that adorn each bottle. The sheaths are Mayan woven patterns made on a traditional foot loom by a Guatemalan Kik’che’ Women’s co-op that specializes in this cultural practice. The brand has dedicated $2 from every bottle sold to the co-op’s trade workers.  

The brand has stated that the spirit’s flavor profile is “a true love letter to Guatemalan terroir” with notes of cocoa, banana, coffee, almond, and tropical fruits — imparted by a more pronounced fermentation process in the balmy La Costa region — seamlessly dance with the whiskey notes imparted by the second use barrel which adds flavors of butterscotch and caramel.

Tenango Rum is available now nationwide for online purchase with an MSRP $49.99.   

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