The Rums of Mexico (700 ml) 'Caldo' Rum, Veracruz (104.6 proof)

The Rums of Mexico Caldo is a 104.6-proof aguardiente made from fresh-pressed sugarcane juice in Veracruz, distilled by Orlando Vásquez on a four-plate continuous copper still heated entirely by firewood. The name "caldo" translates to "broth" or "juice," a direct reference to the fresh cane juice base that defines this spirit's raw, unfiltered character. Unlike most rums that start with molasses or rehydrated sugar, Vásquez ferments and distills the living juice of two high-sugar cane varieties — 290 and CP421 — selected for fast growth and concentrated flavor, delivering a profile closer to rhum agricole than column-distilled Caribbean rum. Orlando Vásquez is a second-generation cane farmer who began distilling in 2015 after years spent producing unrefined panela (piloncillo) from his family's fields. His experimentation with rehydrated panela eventually gave way to the realization that fresh-pressed juice yielded the most expressive spirit, and he committed to a farm-to-bottle model that uses only estate-grown cane. The Rums of Mexico project documents his work alongside three other distillers across Veracruz, Oaxaca, and Jalisco, mapping a tradition of Mexican cane distillation that predates the modern rum category. The firewood-heated still and unfiltered bottling preserve the terroir of Veracruz's volcanic soils and humid Gulf climate, resulting in a spirit that tastes unmistakably of place. The nose opens with earthy complexity — truffle, charcoal smoke, vinegar, and wood glue — before the palate pivots toward bright fruit: mandarin, roasted cherries, and smoked berry jam. The texture is full and oily, the finish long and funky, with a persistent smokiness that distinguishes it from cleaner agricole-style rums. Drink it neat to appreciate the interplay of smoke, earth, and fruit, or use it as a high-proof base in stirred cocktails where its bold character can anchor vermouth, amaro, or aged spirits. It pairs especially well with grilled pork, aged cheeses, and dark chocolate, where the spirit's savory notes find common ground with roasted, caramelized flavors. Available for pickup at our Lincoln Park bottle shop at 1128 W Armitage Ave, for local Chicago delivery, or shipped nationwide where regulations allow.