Ron Centenario 1985 Second Batch

Starting from the 16th century, South America was dominated by conquistadors, missionaries, and colonizers arriving with the intention of exploiting natural resources and the local population. Those territories experienced pervasive structural violence, resulting in enduring social, economic, and racial inequalities that continue to pose significant challenges to the societies of the region up to the present day. The focus was previously centered around gold, silver, or saltpeter, whereas now it has shifted more towards copper or oil.

Costa Rica's development has taken a rather atypical course compared to its neighbouring countries. Due to the extermination of the indigenous population, the arriving settlers had no alternative but to personally engage in farming. In addition, the absence of exploitative slavery prevented the formation of large landed estates, known as latifundia. The dispersed ownership of land gave rise to an agrarian society that desired to autonomously determine its own fate. Central to progress is the ability to compromise, and it occurs through negotiations rather than resorting to forceful approaches by those in charge. After all, public policy is meant to benefit the well-being of citizens, right? As an illustration, the armed forces were disbanded in 1949, and its budget (6% of GDP) was redirected to education.

Currently, Costa Rica is seen as the best-administered country in the region, with a stable democracy and contented citizens. Feel free to compare it with your country of residence. Stiglitz summarized Ticos neatly: “Costa Ricans have made clear that inequality is a choice, and that public policies can ensure a greater degree of economic equality and equality of opportunity than the market alone would provide.” The ominous clouds have been gathering for some time, though. 🌫️

Today, we'll take a look at the Costa Rican Ron Centenario Second Batch 1985. The variant's name grabs attention because it implies the product's characteristics. Simple yet effective, a common strategy we have encountered multiple times before. The brand was indeed established in 1985. Thirty-five years later, the occasion was marked with celebratory limited edition releases. Semi-milestones somehow indicate unconventional creativity. 🙃

The website states that the brand competes locally with Flor de Caña, Bacardí, and Captain Morgan. Export expansion started in 2007. It also mentions that Ron Centenario maintains its presence in consumers' minds through continuous image refreshing and portfolio adapting to successive generations of customers. 1985 cask selection is a limited series that fits into the trend of uniqueness, where consumers pay for the promise of experiencing something exceptional. Concerning the second batch, its distinctiveness lies in "catá el bosque" meaning… “tasting the forest”. Allow me to clarify: barrels from the lowlands (misticismo de las tierras altas de Escocia) are maturing in a tropical jungle (añejaron en un bosque de Costa Rica). 🌳

How long? 1985 sounds suggestive, although it is actually a no-age-statement, leaving its exact age uncertain. Some argue though that the blend includes a thirty-five-year-old component, which may be appealing for homeopathy lovers. Compare Appleton Estate 30 Year Old priced at $495, making it twelve times more expensive than 1985. The frequent suspect for deceptive issues is somehow the Spanish style and solera method.

Sugar cane comes from the volcanic soils of Costa Rica. The product is created in the state monopoly FANAL (Fabrica Nacional de Licores), through the distillation of molasses using column and iron stills. The brand Ron Centenario purchases freshly distilled rum and then ages it. The position of master blender is held by Susana Masis, who also serves as the Quality Control Assurance Manager. The series is bottled at 43% abv. Distribution is limited, with only 3500 bottles available for Germany, for example.