CubaPLUS Magazine

Black Tears, one of the five rums currently produced by the Cuban joint venture Spanish Ron Vigía S.A., is made with traditional Cuban flavors but aimed at a young audience that lives each day with passion. In a press conference held this Thursday, the president of the company, Enrique Arias Jiménez explained how and when the idea of this rum arose, which, in his opinion, is the contemporary expression of the usual Cuban rum.

Black Tears is the first Cuban spiced rum with the characteristic flavors of the island, cocoa, coffee and cachucha chili was added, an idea that arose in a conversation with his father, son of a Cuban from Santiago de Cuba who transmitted to him the tradition of mixtures to enhance the flavors, explained the executive.

Currently this rum, along with four others that make up the company's portfolio – Black Tears Aguardiente, Black Tears SuperDry, Black Tears Roble Superior and Progresiva de Vigía are produced in a factory located in the town of Chambas, province of Ciego de Ávila, currently in an investment process that includes 5 stages, with the aim of modernizing production and, at the same time, maintain as much as possible some areas as heritage.

For this year, according to Arias Jiménez, production is expected to reach around one million 300 thousand bottles, of which 20% are destined for export. When referring to the design of the bottles, which for the first time are square for rum, he explained were made in Germany with modern engravings that symbolize the feeling of the new generations with graffiti and tattoos.

For his part, the company's Marketing Director, Ramsés Villar, referred to the great acceptance that these rums have had in the national market and he cited among the main clients, Tiendas Caracol, TRD, Cimex and Grupo Gaviota, among others. Regarding foreign clients, he cited Ukraine, England, Singapore, Indonesia and Poland, among others for a total of 30 countries.

When answering a question about the possibilities of sales to Canada, he noted that they are working hard in that market. However, he said that among clients on the island they also have the hotel chain of that nation Blue Diamond, whose clientele has received with great approval the Vigía rums. This joint company was created at the end of 2020 between the Cuban sugar group AZCUBA, through the company Zerus, its holding company, and the Spanish company Island Rum Brands SL. Its rums, along with those of Havana Club and Ron Santiago, are the three best sellers in the largest of the Antilles.