Don Q Explained

Ron Don Q
Inventor:Juan Serrallés Colón
Launch Year:1865
Company:Destilería Serrallés

Don Q is a Puerto Rican rum, distilled, manufactured, bottled, and distributed by Destilería Serrallés from its corporate facility in Ponce, Puerto Rico. Don Q, "Puerto Rico's best-known rum",[1] is the top-selling rum in Puerto Rico,[2] [3] [4] [5] where over 70% of the rum consumed in the United States is produced.[6] The rum derives its name from Don Quixote,[7] [8] the protagonist in Miguel de Cervantes' classic Spanish novel.[9] The rum is sold internationally, competing against Bacardi for market share. Available in the continental United States since June 2009,[10] Don Q continues to outsell Bacardi in Puerto Rico.[11] [12] [13]

Distillation process

Don Q is distilled from sugar cane. The combination of the type of yeasts employed for fermentation, distillation method, aging conditions, and blending determines the characteristic flavor of rum. Made with molasses, water, mash, and yeast, Don Q is distilled in a continuous still. Once distilled, the clear spirit is aged in oak barrels for up to a year per Puerto Rican law, adding a golden color and character to the rum. Flavors and spices, if any, are added as an option at this point. The brand's taste is achieved through a proprietary recipe, which is blended into the rum mixture at the final stages of production.[14]

Advertising and sales

Currently, Don Q is sold in the United States, Mexico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Spain, and a number of other countries.[15] [16] Don Q is the best-selling rum in Puerto Rico.[17]

Destileria Serrallés has been engaged in numerous advertising campaigns for its rums.[18] Television ads have run on Puerto Rican channels, and they have sponsored local sports teams, such as Ponce's Leones de Ponce baseball team and their BSN counterpart the Leones de Ponce basketball team.[19] Don Q also has appeared on a number of films.

International awards and recognitions

Despite focusing on the middle and lower end of the price spectrum, five of seven Don Q offerings have achieved a modicum of success at international spirit ratings competitions. For example, its Don Q Gran Añejo rum earned one double gold, two silver, and one bronze medals at the San Francisco World Spirits Competitions between 2008 and 2012.[20]

Also, in 2010, Don Q scored high at the Spirits International Prestige (SIP) Awards, in San Diego, California. Competing against hundreds of rums from around the globe, Don Q Añejo, Don Q Gran Añejo, Don Q Cristal, Don Q Coco, Don Q Mojito and Don Q Limón were awarded rankings in the “Platinum-Best in Class” and “Gold” categories. In this competition, according to Alberto "Tito" Torruella Bartolomei, Don Q's VP for Manufacturing, all of the Don Q products brought to the competition received awards. Unlike other awards, the SIP Awards select consumers for judges. "It is not the first time that Destilería Serrallés receives an international award. In a recent competition in Las Vegas, Nevada, Don Q Cristal received the top award within the category “Best Mojito”. Don Q Oro also received an award.[21]

In September 2011, the American Academy of Hospitality Sciences awarded Don Q Gran Añejo a five-star rating, something they "don't award to just any rum...In fact they found only one worthy enough of this honor: DonQ Gran Añejo...Gran Añejo is the first rum ever to receive this rare distinction, reserved for the greatest achievements in travel, hospitality products and services. The American Academy of Hospitality Sciences Board of Trustees recognized in Destilería Serrallés for DonQ Gran Añejo exceptional quality and character.[6]

In popular culture

Don Q has been featured in the 2012 motion picture comedy Ted.[22] [23] [24] According to a July 5, 2012, article by Robert Haynes-Peterson in Examiner.com, "The DonQ in question turns up at a drug- and Flash Gordon-fueled party scene which also serves as a pivotal turning point in the story. Gearing up to do shots, Wahlberg grabs the nearest bottle of rum and turns it to the camera for a lingering several seconds."[25] [23] It is also mentioned in the song "Come Get Her" by Rae Sremmurd.

Products

Don Q has been produced in a number of different types:[26]

Small sample bottles of the Don Q are also available at supermarkets, pharmacies, and liquor stores.[27]

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Neysa Rodriguez Deynes, Rafael J. Torres Torres, and Carlos Aneiro Perez. "Otros Puntos de Interes", in Brevario Sobre la Historia de Ponce y Sus Principales Lugares de Interes. Gobierno Municipal de Ponce (Ponce, Puerto Rico). Model Offset Printing. 1991. page 172.
  2. https://periodicoelsolpr.com/2020/03/09/don-q-celebra-nueva-imagen/ Don Q celebra nueva imagen.
  3. https://vinepair.com/articles/don-q-puerto-rican-rum/ 10 Things You Should Know About Don Q Rum.
  4. https://www.besttastingspirits.com/review-don-q-cristal-rum/ Review: Don Q Cristal Rum.
  5. https://www.caribjournal.com/2014/04/01/don-q-distillery-to-ramp-up-rum-production-in-puerto-rico/ Don Q Distillery to Ramp Up Rum Production in Puerto Rico.
  6. http://www.prdailysun.com/news/DonQ-awarded-5-stars DonQ awarded 5 stars.
  7. https://archive.org/details/roughguidetopuer0000keel/page/218 Porta Caribe: Ponce and around.
  8. http://www.trivago.es/san-juan-33685/curiosidades/museoexposiciongaleria-de-arte/f_180=1 Museo/Exposición/Galería de arte Don Q.
  9. Web site: Puerto Rico - Destileria Serralles, Inc. - Ministry of Rum. www.ministryofrum.com. 24 June 2011. 29 June 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20110629041429/http://www.ministryofrum.com/producerdetails.php?t=16. dead.
  10. http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20090625005559/en/Serralles-USA-Opens-Headquarters-Dallas-TX Serralles USA Opens Its Headquarters in Dallas, TX.
  11. http://www.spiritsreview.com/reviews-rum-don-q-gold.html Rum - Don Q Gold: Destileria Serrallés.
  12. https://archive.today/20130118095348/http://boozeblogger.com/wordpress/2010/03/booze-reviews-don-q-rums-crystal-gold-anjeo/ Booze Reviews Don Q Rums: Crystal, Gold, Añejo.
  13. http://www.caribjournal.com/2012/09/22/rum-journal-don-q-gran-anejo-puerto-rican-rum/ Rum Journal: Tasting Don Q Gran Añejo Puerto Rican Rum.
  14. Web site: 2003 Industrial Symbiosis in Rum Production. By International Society for Industrial Ecology. Page 3..
  15. Web site: Serrallés USA Joins Forces With Powerhouse Glazer Distributors. https://archive.today/20120910091406/http://www.reuters.com/article/pressRelease/idUS160577+15-Jul-2009+BW20090715. dead. 2012-09-10. .
  16. Web site: The 10 Best Puerto Rican Rums You Need To Try. James. Raiswell. AskMen.
  17. http://www.spiritsreview.com/reviews-rum-don-q-gold.html Rum - Don Q Gold: Destileria Serrallés.
  18. http://www.eltuque.com/pista/index.html Sample DonQ advertising
  19. http://www.periodicolaperla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=5745:los-leones-despiden-el-ano-con-la-clasificacion&catid=92:portada-deportes&Itemid=318 Leones despiden el año con clasificación.
  20. Web site: Proof66.com Website. 2012-10-20. 4 October 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20121004141730/http://www.proof66.com/rum/don-q-gran-anejo-rum.html. dead.
  21. http://www.periodicolaperla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1525:premian-la-excelencia-de-empresa-poncena&catid=119:articulos&Itemid=342 Carmen Cila Rodríguez. Arrasa otra vez la Destilería Serrallés. Periodico La Perla. Section "Gente."
  22. http://www.topix.com/city/rice-tx Don Q Rum Featured in "Ted".
  23. https://archive.today/20130415230201/http://us.topnewstoday.org/us/article/2716862/ DonQ Rum featured in the movie Ted.
  24. http://www.heraldnews.com/newsnow/x1245783314/FAST-FOOD-Celebrate-National-Pina-Colada-Day FAST FOOD: Celebrate National Pina Colada Day.
  25. https://archive.today/20130210030950/http://www.wsmv.com/story/18983382/celebrate-national-pina-colada-day-july-10th-with-don-q-on-ted-rocks-and-hunters-pina-colada WSMV - Channel 4 News.
  26. Web site: Don Q Añejo - Puerto Rico - review - Ministry of Rum. www.ministryofrum.com. 24 June 2011. 14 July 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20110714101259/http://www.ministryofrum.com/rumdetails.php?r=901. dead.
  27. Web site: 27 July 2021 . San Juan, Puerto Rico; Cruise Ship Ports and Cruising Regions . www.cruisemates.com.