Don Pancho. It’s more than a name. It is legend.

Francisco “Don Pancho” Fernandez has had one of the rum industry’s storied careers, one that has taken him from Cuba, where he served as a Maestro Ronero for a decade, and now to the cane fields of Panama.

The latest rum crafted by Don Pancho (in partnership with Chef Alex Garcia) is one that comes with its own storied history: the soon-to-be-released Copacabana 1940 Rum.

It gets its name from two famous sites: Copacabana Beach in Brazil and the New York City nightclub called Copcabana.

So what’s it like?

Copacabana is a “Rum Añejo,” with seven years of aging.
It has a lustrous, golden-amber colour, with a sweet aroma marked by honey and lime.

The flavour profile includes everything from toffee to bourbon.

The finish is exceptionally smooth, with the final taste that’s become a signature of Pancho’s rums of late: an almost inarticulable blend of maple, toffee and brown sugar.

This rum is remarkably versatile: it’s not often you find a rum that is equally at home both in a mixed cocktail or on the rocks, shifting and adapting to meet its environs.

The verdict? A very good rum.

It’s a rather intriguing new entry — and we’re excited for the wider launch.

— CJ