Don Papa Rum: The Heritage of the Philippines and Negros Sugarcane

Don Papa Rum is a brand born in 2012 in the Philippines, launched by Stephen Caroll, former marketing director of Rémy Martin. This brand is inspired by the legend of the exceptional sugarcane of the island of Negros, renowned for its unique characteristics. It was in the 19th century, thanks to the will of Yves-Léopold Germain, a French businessman, that the cultivation of this cane began to develop and establish itself on the island. The Bleeding Heart Rum Company, founded by Caroll, uses this particularly sugar-rich cane to distill molasses, which is then transformed into rum. The latter is distilled on a column at the San Miguel Corporation distillery in Bago, in the northwest of the island. The rum is then aged for a minimum of 7 years in former bourbon barrels, adding warm and complex notes to its profile. One of Don Papa's flagship products, the Sherry Cask Edition, benefits from a second maturation in a selection of sherry casks: Palo Cortado, Fino, Pedro Ximénèz, and Cream, creating an even richer and more refined character. In addition, Don Papa offers a diverse range, including a Don Papa 10 Year Old, a rare Cask Edition bottled at over 50% ABV, and the Masskara infused with Calamansi, a local fruit, for a touch of originality. Don Papa's distinctive bottle design features Dionisio Magbuelas, a hero of the Philippine revolution, a former plantation overseer who led his people to independence. Each bottle tells the story of a unique terroir, a cultural heritage, and a tradition of craftsmanship.