Angostura

Origin : More commonly known for the Angostura Bitters created in 1824, Angostura's ventures into Rum distillation can be traced back to 1945, following the purchase of the rum distillery, Trinidad Distiller's Limited.

Leaving his native Germany in 1820, Johann Gottlieb Benjamin Siegert set forth on his adventures, heading to Venezuela to aid Simon Bolivar in the fight against the Spanish throne. Appointed as Surgeon-General of a military hospital in the town of Angostura, Johann used his scientific knowledge to create a remedy to aid in the recovery of the soldiers in his care. By 1824, his efforts were rewarded with a unique blend of tropical herbs and plants which he called Amargo Aromatico - Aromatic Bitters.

Over the next 6 years word of his bitters and their medicinal practicallities had spread and with Angostura being an important trading post on the Orinoco River, the bitters were being shipped around the world. By the time of his death in 1870, he had formed a partnership with his son Carlos, who travelled the world to exhibt the bitters and their practical uses. By the turn of the 20th century, having decided that Venezuela was not as politically stable as would be desired, the Angostura company moved to the Caribbean island of Trinidad, where it has been ever since.

The company also started bottling bulk rum from other distillers, but it wasn't until 1945, after many years of research into fermentaton and distillation processes that Angostura bought its own distillery and started producing its own rums. Since the turn of the 21st century, Angostura has won many awards for its rums including the 2009 best rum award at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition for its 1824 rum.

"Today the butterfly adorns out labels - a colorful symbol of the unique, smooth taste of Angostura rum."