Santa Teresa

Santa Teresa is Venezuela’s oldest rum producer, renowned for its dedication to craftsmanship, community, and the art of ageing fine rum. Founded in 1796 on the family-owned Hacienda Santa Teresa in the lush Aragua Valley, the brand has become a benchmark for premium Latin American rum, blending Spanish Caribbean heritage with a distinctly Venezuelan elegance.

A Legacy Dating Back Over Two Centuries

The Santa Teresa estate was established in the late 18th century, producing agricultural goods before turning its focus to rum. In 1885, the Vollmer family, of German origin, took ownership, bringing with them a long-term vision and a commitment to quality. Five generations later, Santa Teresa remains family-run, with the distillery still located on its historic hacienda.

The Aragua Valley Advantage

Santa Teresa’s location in the Aragua Valley provides ideal conditions for rum production: fertile soils for growing sugarcane, a warm climate for fermentation, and humidity that accelerates barrel ageing. The distillery uses molasses as its base, sourced from its own sugarcane fields and other Venezuelan suppliers, ensuring consistent quality.

Production and Ageing

Santa Teresa produces rum using a combination of column still and pot still distillation, allowing them to craft both lighter and heavier styles before blending. Ageing takes place exclusively in oak barrels, often ex-bourbon casks, under tropical conditions, meaning that the rum matures faster and develops deeper flavours in fewer years compared to cooler climates.

One of Santa Teresa’s most distinctive aspects is its use of the solera ageing system for its flagship expression, allowing younger rums to mingle with much older stocks, ensuring a consistently rich and complex profile.

Its drier profile makes it stand out from many sweeter Latin-style rums, appealing to whisky drinkers as well as rum enthusiasts.

Social Responsibility and Rugby

Santa Teresa is also known for its Proyecto Alcatraz, a social reintegration programme that uses rugby as a tool to rehabilitate former gang members and at-risk youth. This initiative has become part of the brand’s identity, reflecting its commitment to community as well as quality rum.

Our Selection

Our Santa Teresa range centres on the acclaimed 1796 solera rum, alongside versatile mixing rums and occasional limited releases. Whether you enjoy your rum neat, in a refined Old Fashioned, or exploring Venezuelan heritage through a bottle, Santa Teresa delivers authenticity, history, and craftsmanship in every pour.