THE PHILIPPINES, AUGUST 3, 2012: The bar of Philippine luxury standard will be set higher as the Bleeding Heart Rum Company is set to launch Don Papa Small Batch Rum this month.
Don Papa is made with the selection of some of the finest and sweetest sugar cane in the world, grown on the rich soils of Negros. The molasses are then distilled before being aged for over seven years in American oak in the foothills of Mount Kanlaon. The rum is then charcoal filtered to remove any tannins and impurities before being blended to perfection. Don Papa, which is 100% made in the Philippines, is crafted with great precision and substantially amplifies the liquor experience.
The combination of the soil, the quality of the sugar cane, the ageing in oak and the blenders’ art come together beautifully to give Don Papa a rich, smooth taste. Light and fruity on the nose, smooth and delicate in the mouth with a long textured finish, Don Papa has a light amber color and offers flavors of vanilla, honey and candied fruits.
The Bleeding Heart Rum Company has worked with Kathryn Eckstein, a young creative mixologist, to produce a range of cocktails made uniquely from local ingredients. Eckstein’s take of the famous Caprioska, named “Kapag Serious Ka”, has garnered a number of positive reviews. The exact recipe remains a secret but it surely involves a shot of Don Papa, some crushed calamansi, a little muscovado sugar and a splash of soda.
But the experience does not stop with the liquor itself as it is packaged in a bottle reminiscent of the rule of the Spanish landlords in the Philippines.
Andrew Garcia, local market head for Don Papa small batch rum, said, "This country is the second largest rum market in the world, yet does not have a genuinely premium rum. With Don Papa, we wanted to rectify that: beautiful packaging, a great story and of course, a delicious rum.”
The name of the rum itself was inspired by the story of a man widely known as Papa Isio, one of the lesser known figures of the Philippine revolution against the Spanish. Island patriot, nationalist, leader of a group of babaylanes, and fighter for social justice, Papa Isio briefly led his island to independence before joining the main revolutionary movement.
Don Papa Small Batch Rum will be available in selected bars, restaurants and liquor stores in Manila including Aracama Manila Cuisine, Draft, Beso, Distillery, and Ralphs Wines and Spirits.
