Dominican rum producer Brugal welcomed journalists and content creators to an exclusive experience at its Casa de la Maestria facility in Puerto Plata.
The event celebrated the heritage and ongoing evolution of the Dominican rum industry. Representatives from the newspaper Diario Libre joined media members and digital creators for a behind-the-scenes look at the location where the company's story first began.
Visitors explored the landmark Casa de la Maestria estate, walking through the aging cellars and active production lines. The guided itinerary demonstrated how time, oak wood, local climate, and human expertise interact to create the distinct profile of each Brugal rum expression.
Master Rum Maker Jassil Villanueva accompanied guests throughout the walkthrough. As a fifth-generation rum master and the first woman to achieve the title in the Dominican Republic, Villanueva detailed the company's historic distillation methods and explained the complex sensory profiles of the spirits.
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Distillery Cellars and Puerto Plata Heritage
Founded by Spanish immigrant Andres Brugal Montaner, the company has operated in Puerto Plata for more than 135 years. The city, situated on the northern Atlantic coast of the Dominican Republic, serves as the historic cradle of the nation's commercial rum production.
The event included a tour of iconic local monuments across Puerto Plata, highlighting the deep historical ties between the rum brand and its coastal home city.
Casa Brugal remains one of the largest producers of aged rum in the Caribbean. It holds the distinction of being the first Dominican rum producer certified by Bonsucro, an international non-profit organisation that promotes sustainable sugarcane production and processing standards.
Gourmet Pairing Dinner
The day concluded with a formal pairing dinner created and led by chef Catherine Lemoine. Lemoine developed a specialized menu crafted specifically to complement two of the brand's premium offerings, Brugal 1888 and Maestro Reserva.
The dining experience allowed guests to discover new dimensions of aroma, flavor, and texture. Each dish was designed to engage in a sensory dialogue with the wood-aged rum profiles.
Brugal executive and brand ambassador Susana Ortega joined Villanueva and Lemoine to host the final gathering of the evening. The dinner underscored how five generations of traditional craft remain rooted in Puerto Plata while projecting into the future.
Ortega said Puerto Plata was not merely the site where the company began its journey, but the spiritual home from which it continues to build its legacy and future vision.
