Brugal

Andrés Brugal, founder of Brugal & Co.

During the second half of the 19th century, Andrés Brugal Montaner, a Spanish national who had migrated from Sitges, Catalonia, Spain to Santiago de Cuba, decided to move to the Dominican Republic and take up permanent residence in Puerto Plata. While in Cuba, Don Andrés acquired expertise in the making of rum, and based on that experience he founded Brugal & Co. in Puerto Plata, the company produces several different kinds of rum. After introducing its dark rum into the market in 1888. It would mark the beginning of a long family tradition. Don Andrés, unknowingly, would become the forebear of entrepreneurial leadership in Dominican society. In 1920 the company's first warehouses were built for the ageing of rum in oak barrels.

By 1976, with Extraviejo, the company developed the Premium rum segment in Dominican Republic. In 1998 Brugal & Co. launched Brugal Limón, Brugal Pasión and Unico.[1] In 2005, the company launched 5-liter steel dispensing barrels for its medium and low-tier brands. Today, the chairman George Arzeno Brugal and most of the board members are direct descendants of the founder of the company.

Brugal is enjoyed neat, over ice, mixed with Coca-Cola ("Coke") or Pepsi which is commonly referred to as a "cuba libre" with green sweet lemons or yellow sweet lemons (Lemon dulce) green dragon lemons or yellow dragon lemons (dragón verde or dragón amarillo) or mixed with 7-up or sprite which is commonly referred to as a ‘santo libre’. Some people mix Brugal with fresh fruit juices. It is also usually the main ingredient in Mama Juana which is a drink that is rumored to have qualities as an aphrodisiac.

Bottling Plant in Puerto Plata

Brugal has Distilleries in Puerto Plata where the rums are produced. The distribution and marketing offices are located in the capital city of Santo Domingo, and there is also a regional office in Santiago de los Caballeros, the Dominican Republic's second largest city. The company creates several varieties of rum.

On February 6, 2008, Brugal & Co. made public that The Edrington Group, a large Scottish distilling company, won control of the company by acquiring a majority shareholding. In a press release, the Brugal family assured that production will continue within the Dominican Republic and that they will remain as shareholders and have an active role in managing the company and brand.[2][3]

Figures published indicate that the price paid by Edrington for a holding of just over 60%[4] (other sources cite up to 83%[5] ) was in excess of £200million.

Old trapiche

A number of Brugal rums have been submitted at international spirit ratings organizations for review. The Extra Viejo has performed reasonably well. Wine Enthusiast awarded it scores of "90-95" in 2009, while the San Francisco World Spirits Competition gave it a silver medal in that same year.[6]