Cue Sabrina Carpenter’s “Espresso” – November 23 is National Espresso Day. What better way to toast the day than by adding some spirits to that coffee. The popularity of the Espresso Martini is not slowing down anytime soon and you’d be hard pressed to find a bar not serving the caffeinated cocktail. Usually paired with vodka, it’s high time we start incorporating other spirits.
Nina Westervelt / Shutterstock for Santa Teresa
Enter Santa Teresa 1796 Solera Rum, Venezuela’s oldest and most esteemed rum producer, with origins in the Aragua Valley dating back to 1796 as a sugar cane plantation. The heritage brand has unveiled its latest innovation, the Santa Teresa 1796 Arabica Coffee Cask Finish. With a legacy spanning over 225 years of tradition, Hacienda Santa Teresa remains family-owned and operated for five generations, producing all its rum at their historic estate in Venezuela.
Nina Westervelt / Shutterstock for Santa Teresa
The official launch of this innovative spirit took place at Undercote NYC, hosted by brand ambassador and mixologist Gio Gutierrez. Gio guided guests through a tasting of Santa Teresa 1796 rum and the all-new Coffee Cask Finish which infuses the flagship rum with bold, nuanced notes from Arabica coffee casks. This rum is a testament Santa Teresa’s dedication to craftmanship and innovation, signifying a special moment for rum and coffee enthusiasts alike.
Nina Westervelt / Shutterstock for Santa Teresa
This new expression takes the award-winning Santa Teresa 1796, renowned for its triple-aged Solera process, and adds a bold, coffee-infused twist. This distinguished new rum undergoes an additional transformation, spending three months in American white oak casks previously used to age a rum-based cold brew coffee. This meticulous process infuses the rum with rich coffee aromas and flavors, enhancing its depth and character without the use of additives.
Nina Westervelt / Shutterstock for Santa Teresa
This rum offers an unparalleled richness, offering notes of oak, cacao nibs, and distinctive coffee flavors. This versatile spirit is ideal for savoring neat, on the rocks, or in classic cocktails like the Old Fashioned, Carajillo, and Espresso Martini.
The sensory journey at the event showcased the versatility of the original 1796 and Coffee Cask through signature cocktails like:
- The Highball – Santa Teresa Coffee Cask, McIntosh apple, buckwheat honey, and carbonation.
- Espresso Martini – A luxe blend of Coffee Cask, cacao, coffee, and amaro.
- I Shot the Sherry, But I Did Not Shoot the Daquiri – A playful take on the classic, with Santa Teresa 1796, lime, and sherry.
- Jungle Bird – Santa Teresa 1796, Campari, Pineapple, and lime
- Old Fashioned – Santa Teresa 1796 Arabica Coffee Cask, Dom Benedictine, and Angostura Bitter
Nina Westervelt / Shutterstock for Santa Teresa
The brand is using this groundbreaking moment to present a new and refreshed brand identity designed that honors centuries of tradition while embracing a modernized aesthetic. The new look better conveys its unique use of the solera method to create its smooth and balanced rum and tells its rich story of history and tradition. It represents next steps within the brand’s story, honoring tradition while looking towards the future with a modernized aesthetic. The product packaging redesign includes a canister that details the unique production process and features a top with the signature rosette design. The bottle includes new details that hark back to Santa Teresa’s 225 years of history and tradition, including a new logo, family signature, and wax drip seal.
A few years ago, Santa Teresa introduced Nancy Duarte as their first female master rum blender. Alongside Néstor Ortega, she has played a key role in driving the brand’s expansion plans in recent years.
