Dictador

In the second part of the 18th century Severo Arango y Ferro arrived in Catragena de Indias, in the Nueva Granada (former name for Colombia), with the intention of improving tax collection for Spain in the American Spanish colonies. Due to his strong and powerful nature, he was soon nick named „Dictador”.
When he discovered what we today call rum, it was love at first sight – and taste. His love for this tropical elixir led to him to achieving his goal of becoming an important trader of exotic sugar cane distills (spirits were at that time considered as currency) in the Nueva Granada (former name for Colombia).

In 1913, almost 180 years after Dictadors myth was conceived in Cartagena de Indias, one of his descendants established Destilieria Colombiana. Don Julio Arango y Parra spent years researching Dictador’s myth and everything about rum production in order to become the finest Columbian rum producer in Caribbean Zone, while dedicating his life to honour Dictador’s legacy.

Determined to showcase Dictador’s success worldwide, the third generation of the family saught international markets to export the rum to. Experienced investors in Europe were enamoured by the history and secrets of Dictador Rum and decided to invest their capital, knowledge and vast experience in the company.