Rum Rats partnership with Don Pancho & Carlos Esquivel

To turn our dream of producing a high quality rum to the Canadian market, into a reality, Rum Rats have set up a partnership with legendary Panamanian rum producers and industry legends **‘Don Pancho’ Fernandez** and **Carlos Esquivel** of The Pilsa Rum Distillery.
Don Pancho is one of Panama’s most experienced and respected master blenders, keeping the legacy of traditional rum production alive, harnessing techniques and knowledge that he has perfected over the last five decades.
The Pilsa Rum Distillery, are a custom distiller with a proven track record as producers of award winning rums.

Single Origin

**Pilsa Panama.** Deep in the heart of Southern Panama, lies the Arco Seco (or The Dry Arch). A unique Peninsula region, where the dry pacific air and the heat of the Caribbean unite, creating the perfect conditions for a distinct blend of sugar cane production and rum aging tradition that has remained largely undiscovered by North American audiences.
The first release from Rum Rats will bring this distinct and authentically Panamanian flavour to market with a single origin, 5-Year Bourbon barrel-aged, black molasses rum. Our rum is grown, processed, fermented, distilled and aged all in the Arco Seco region, every note reminiscent of this unique location, where the warm Caribbean air meets the cool pacific breeze.

Aged in American Oak Barrels

Rum Rats have chosen to age their rum in a selection of American Oak Barrels made from exceptionally high quality American white oak. This selection of Bourbon and Whisky oak barrels are renowned for their high quality and consistency of output.

5 Years in a cask

Rum Rats has made the deliberate choice of showcasing rum aged for a true period of 5 years. Our rum at maturity, allows the subtle and natural flavour profiles of the Panamanian sugar cane to shine through.

Molasses based

Our rum is produced from thick, rich and dark Panamanian Molasses.

Single Column distillation

Our rum is made using a single column distillation process.

Tropically aged

Our rum is fully aged and matured in the heat of the tropical Panamanian climate. During this aging process the humidity and warmth of the climate react with the wood of the barrel to create an expression unique to this geographical location. It is during this process where the rum acquires its flavor, color and character that truly captures the essence and romance of the Arco Seco region in a bottle.

Non chill filtered

Rum Rats offers a unique rum expression, straight from cask to bottle with minimal filtration. The process of non chill filtration allows our rum to remain as pure and true, to its original state as possible.

No additives, No added sugar

At Rum Rats, we want to showcase our rums in their purest form. The natural flavours of the sugar cane, remain unobscured and are able to shine through, in their unadulterated form. A true rum, with 0% sugar, flavours or additives.

Brought together by a mutual appreciation for good times and beach living in their adopted homes on the Latin American coast, the Rum Rats partnership of Shamus Hewitt & Jason Gardner, was solidified over a bottle of small batch, artisanal Panamanian Rum.

From that initial discovery began a journey into the world of Latin American rums and a desire to create their own product that would capture the distinct character and unique flavour of the region.

Shamus & Jason are proud to be bringing their first rum release back to their native Canada, with Rum Rats’ signature expression, The ‘Arco Seco’.

A product that offers a fresh perspective and pushes the boundaries of what people have come to expect from a typical rum.

Our rum is proudly,