Vizcaya

In 1878, Spanish industrialist José Arechabala Aldama founded the "La Vizcaya" distillery in Cárdenas, in Cuba's Matanzas province, laying the foundation for one of Cuba's most storied rum recipes. Following the Cuban Revolution, many rum-making families relocated their knowledge and recipes to the Dominican Republic – a pattern that the Vizcaya brand also followed.

Today, Vizcaya is made in the Dominican Republic by Oliver & Oliver according to the traditional "Cuban formula", starting with freshly pressed sugarcane juice. With Vizcaya Cristal, you will find the accessible core bottling of this storied brand in our selection.

How did a Cuban rum recipe end up in the Dominican Republic?

In 1878, Spanish-born industrialist José Arechabala Aldama founded his "La Vizcaya" distillery in Cárdenas on Cuba's north coast, producing rum from surplus molasses left over from Cuba's thriving sugar industry. Following the 1959 Cuban Revolution, many storied rum-making families lost their operations on the island and relocated to the Dominican Republic, where a similar climate allowed them to continue traditional Cuban production methods. The Vizcaya brand followed this pattern and has been produced there ever since.

What defines the "Cuban formula"?

Vizcaya still follows traditional methods dating back to 19th-century Cuba: the process begins with freshly harvested sugarcane, quickly pressed to process the fragrant juice while at its freshest. The brand is now produced by Oliver & Oliver, which distributes several rum brands with Cuban roots from its Dominican production facility.

The most popular bottling at a glance

1. Vizcaya Cristal
The brand's clear, accessible base bottling.
Taste: Light and clean with subtle sweetness.
Serving suggestion: Ideal neat, on ice, or as a base for light cocktails.

Facts and figures

Founded: 1878 by José Arechabala Aldama, Cárdenas, Cuba. Current production: Dominican Republic. Producer: Oliver & Oliver.