Meet the female Masterblender for Ron Zacapa - Lorena Vásquez
Her full name is Ana Lorena Vásquez Ampié and she was born in San Marcos, located in eastern Nicaragua. She holds a master's degree in chemistry, food and business administration. When she married a Guatemalan man, they moved to his home country. Here she got a job in Ron Zacapa's quality control department, where she was trained from scratch and developed her innate sensitivity to scents and flavors.
The nose and passion
When confronted with the fact that she has achieved the near impossible by leading such a renowned rum in an industry that is so male-dominated that the concept of equality will probably never come up, she shakes her head slightly.
"I am here because of my passion and my well-developed nose. These two things are my most important tools in my daily work, where I literally smell my way to find the right combination of vintages for the different flavors. The sense of smell is so important that I don't put on even the smallest drip of perfume, because my nose simply cannot be disturbed," says Lorena Vásquez, master blender for Ron Zacapa.
A gentleman
As one of the few dark spirits, Ron Zacapa is enjoyed by many women around the world. Vásquez estimates that 30 percent are women. The reason is that Zacapa is very soft and round in its flavor with notes of vanilla, among others. Unlike other rums, Zacapa is made from 'virgin sugar cane honey', which gives it a unique sweetness.
"Luxury rum is a gentleman to us women. That's my mantra, and it should apply to both the taste and the way it is served - with care and delicacy," says Lorena Vásquez
Guatemala. The name alone is full of mystery and legends. The place where Zacapa comes from is often referred to as "The House in the Clouds" as it is located 2,330 km above sea level - literally above the clouds.
Zacapa's home is a breathtaking mix of high mountains, active volcanoes and a lush landscape. Guatemala's history dates back to the Mayans. Elements of their culture live on today in the almost artistic landscape that characterizes the country. The Mayan heritage is clearly represented on the Zacapa bottle with the bottle's bast ribbon, which is called "The Petate". It is a royal Mayan symbol that symbolizes the connection between time and space. The bast ribbon is made exclusively for each bottle by descendants of the Mayans.
THE SWEET ESSENCE
Zacapa rum is born in the fertile volcanic soil of Guatemala, specifically on the southern coast, which is the best place in the world to grow sugar cane - the sun shines all year round. Unlike most other rums that use molasses as a base, Zacapa Rum uses only the very first honey from the sugar cane. In Guatemala, this first honey is called virgin honey, and it forms the basis of Zacapa's unique flavor.
THE HOUSE IN THE CLOUDS
After distillation, Zacapa goes on a long journey to age in the "The House in the Clouds" in the Guatemalan highlands. Our amazing Master Blender Lorena Lorena Vasquez has carefully selected the highland location as the perfect place to store rum. It's a proven fact that the cool mountain air reduces evaporation, allowing more of the amazing rum to age in the barrels. Only by aging in the "The House in the Clouds" 2,330 km above sea level, Zacapa rum can develop its exceptional deep aroma, dark color and full-bodied taste to perfection.
SISTEMA SOLERA
The historic method of Sistema Solera combines craftsmanship and traditions when rums from different vintages and with different characters are blended. Afterwards, aging continues in barrels, where the rum acquires flavor notes from the barrels it ages in. This dynamic and artful process requires constant attention and the luxury of time. As rum ages slower at altitude, the process gives Zacapa the optimal time to achieve its perfect color, aroma and flavor.
Solera Gran Reserva
The "Solera Gran Reserva" process means that Zacapa rum ages in different barrels that have previously held powerful bourbon, delicate sherries and the elegant Pedro Ximenez. During this process, the rum also rests in new oak barrels that are lightly toasted on the inside to give the rum an extra flavor note from the wood. The extravagant process results in a luxurious rum of exceptional quality. Zacapa 23 Year Old has been voted the world's best rum four years in a row. It was then inducted into the Hall of Fame to give others a place in the competition.
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