Panamanian Rum

With its rich volcanic soil, Panama has the perfect environment for growing sugar cane. Surprisingly though, compared to other areas in the Caribbean, the history of Panamanian Rum is fairly recent. The first sugar mill was built in 1908 by Don José Varela Blanco, and his three sons started distilling their Ron Abuelo Panamanian Rum from his mill not long afterwards. Panamanian Rum is typically anejo rum (meaning aged), but there is a national rum called Seco. Similar to clairin, this Panamanian rum is made from fresh sugar cane rather than molasses and is triple distilled, 120 proof and unaged. Traditionally this was drunk with fresh cow’s milk in a coconut shell. Other brands of Panamanian Rum include SelvaRey, Bohemio Rum, Caña Brava, Don Pancho and Zafra.