Panama-Pacific 9 Year Old Rum

The master distiller is Francisco “Don Pacho” J. Fernandez. He was born in Cuba and learned to make rum at Havana Club where he worked for 35 years. He was at one time the Minister of Cuban Rum. He moved to Panama and opened Ingenio San Carlos "Las Cabras" distillery in the early 90's. They have a huge Stainless steel column still where they make industrial ethanol and smaller copper column stills where they make rums like Cana Brava and Panama-Pacific.

Panama Pacific is aged for 3 years in Kentucky Bourbon barrels, then the rums are assessed to see if they can age further. If so, they are transferred to old (i.e., spent) Tennessee whisky barrels. The climate is very hot and humid, averaging 95°F.

Sugarcane is sourced from the area around the distillery in the Provincia de Herrera, which of 9 districts in Panama, it ranks 3rd in sugarcane production. Refining is done at the distillery where the molasses is produced for the rum.