In a global panorama where spirits compete to distinguish themselves in notes, textures and sensory memories, few distillates manage to build a story as solid as that of Ron Villa Rica 23 Gold Edition. Its new presentation celebrated much more than a launch: it was the reaffirmation of a lineage that has placed Mexican rum in the most demanding conversation of world gastronomy.
The sober and careful evening served as a framework to recognize a milestone that is difficult to replicate: 33 gold stars accumulated in eleven consecutive years in the blind tasting of the International Taste Institute (iTQi), in Brussels. This is not just a record, it is a testament to consistency, technical excellence and a sensory profile that remains above 90 points year after year. In the iTQi universe – which many describe as the Oscar of gastronomy– maintaining that distance is almost an act of resistance.
The audience, made up of journalists, specialists and rum enthusiasts, listened with interest to the explanation of the institute’s rigorous evaluation process: totally blind tastings, absolute silence, transparent glasses and natural lighting. The judges – 150 chefs and 150 sommeliers from more than 20 countries, several with Michelin stars and distinctions from guides such as Gault et Millau – analyze each distillate under five sensory criteria: first impression, vision, smell, flavor and final sensation. Only exceptional products, with scores greater than 90 points, obtain the three gold stars.
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Mexican rum shines in blind tasting at the International Taste Institute, in Brussels
Villa Rica 23 Gold Edition has not only exceeded that requirement for more than a decade, but has also earned rare recognitions: the Crystal Taste Award, awarded after three consecutive years of excellence, and the Diamond Taste Award, awarded only to those who maintain seven years of continuous perfection. No other extra aged rum in the world has achieved equivalent results within the same competition.
Beyond the awards, the history of the distillate refers to a geography and a tradition: Córdoba, Veracruz, a region that has held the pulse of Mexican rum for decades. Behind this edition is Licores Veracruz, a family business with 75 years of experience – and roots dating back to 1896 –, dedicated to promoting the quality of national rum on international stages.
The company rests rums that range from one to 45 years of aging, a patience that is perceived in the maturity and complexity of its liquids. Its carefully designed bottles have also received recognition in competitions in New Orleans, Florida, Moscow and Athens, where juries weigh the relationship between aesthetics and sensory character.
During the event, the presence of Villa Rica 23 Gold Edition evoked a recurring idea among attendees: that of a distillate that no longer only represents a producer, but a country. In a world where rum culture finds new nuances, Mexico emerges with its own voice, and from Veracruz, continues to redefine the limits of quality distillates.
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