The Rums of Mexico (700 ml) Cana Criolla Rum, Oaxaca (103.8 proof)

Caña Criolla is an unaged Mexican aguardiente distilled from the juice of native Caña Criolla sugarcane, a traditional variety that grows wild in Veracruz. Bottled at 103.8 proof by The Rums of Mexico, this expression represents heritage cane spirits in their most authentic form — no additives, no filtration, just fresh-pressed juice fermented and distilled in traditional copper. While many aged rums mellow sugarcane's raw character through barrel maturation, Caña Criolla captures the pure, grassy essence of Mexican terroir in a bottle, a style Lincoln Park rum enthusiasts rarely encounter on domestic shelves. The Rums of Mexico works with small, passionate distillers across Veracruz, Oaxaca, and Jalisco to document regional cane traditions that predate modern column-still production. The Caña Criolla variety itself is a heirloom cultivar, flavorful and fibrous, adapted to local growing conditions over generations. After harvest, the cane is pressed immediately and the juice fermented without delay, preserving the vegetal brightness that defines this style. The spirit is then distilled in a copper pot setup, a method that retains more congeners and terroir-driven flavor than industrial continuous distillation. Nothing is added post-distillation — what you taste is the raw result of cane, fermentation, and flame. The nose opens with fresh sugarcane juice, cut grass, and citrus zest, backed by a hint of tropical fruit. On the palate, it's sweet and juicy upfront — sugarcane sweetness layered with lime, ripe banana, light white pepper, and subtle earthy notes. The finish is clean and refreshing, with lingering grassy sweetness and a touch of spice. This is a lively, approachable profile that works equally well neat, over ice, or in cocktails where you want the rum's bright, herbal character to stand out — try it in a Daiquiri or Ti' Punch to let the cane variety speak. For enthusiasts exploring the diversity of Mexican rum and heritage cane varieties, Caña Criolla offers a window into a distilling tradition that has survived largely outside commercial attention. Caña Criolla The Rums of Mexico is available for pickup at our Lincoln Park bottle shop at 1128 W Armitage Ave, for local Chicago delivery, or we can ship nationwide where regulations allow.