Rarely do we hear about Alberta’s storied history of rum running in the early 1900s, but Romero Distilling Co. is changing that. The local rum maker embraces the entrepreneurial spirit of the prohibition era and keeps those century-old stories alive. Founded by a father-son duo, Romero aims to provide Albertans with that same passion and devotion for great rum — but on the right side of the law.
As Canada’s premier rum distillery, Romero offers visitors an experience where they can taste, tour and discover internationally acclaimed rums or gather over cocktails and tapas at its speakeasy-themed bar and patio.
Tours and tastings
Today’s rum and spirits landscape in Alberta is built on a history of secret operations, bootlegging and even murder. In the early 1900s, rum runners and convicted murderers Emilio Picariello and Filomena Lassandro ran a rum-running operation through Alberta, B.C. and the U.S. Pacific Northwest. You can discover their story and learn about Alberta’s prohibition history on a Romero Distilling Co. tour while sipping on its award-winning rums.
Romero’s standard tour goes for $25, where visitors can uncover stories of some of Canada’s most notorious rum-running tales and enjoy a guided tasting. For a more in-depth tour, try Romero’s custom blend tour, where you’ll also get to create your own rum to take home.
International award-winning rums
Founded in 2018 here in Calgary, Romero Distilling Co. provides a luxurious, all-Canadian rum experience. The distillery makes all of its rums in-house and from scratch using Canadian molasses, fresh spices and glacier-fed water from the Canadian Rockies. There’s nothing quite like it, and Romero’s international awards prove it.
Romero’s bourbon barrel-aged dark rum won gold at the San Francisco World Spirits and Best Canadian Spirit in the Frankfurt International Trophy 2022, among other awards. The smooth spirit opens with hints of vanilla and finishes with notes of spices and molasses. Rum lovers can also find an award-winning sugarcane spirit, a sherry cask finish amber rum and a cask-strength rum with warm notes of caramel and butterscotch followed by hints of dried fruit, spice and pipe tobacco, among other flavourful rums. Romero’s impressive rum selection is available in liquor stores and online.
Patio parties
The distillery features a prohibition-themed cocktail bar and patio, perfect for those hot summer days to gather with friends over cocktails. Romero also offers a selection of tapas so you can share your own adventure stories over a table of meats and cheeses, crab cakes, empanadas and more.
Sample a cocktail from the prohibition era menu like the Wild Rose Spritz, or stick to the classics and enjoy a smoked rum old-fashioned or a dark and stormy. And for the non-rum drinkers, don’t worry. Romero has a full-service bar, including non-alcoholic options.
To learn more, visit romerodistilling.com and follow @romerobaryyc.
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