Gustoso Aguardiente Guarapo Artisanal Rum
Gustoso Aguardiente Guarapo Artisanal Rum is a 98-proof (49% ABV) unaged rum in a 750mL bottle — and it is not made from molasses. "Guarapo" is freshly squeezed sugarcane juice, and Gustoso distills it in the rhum agricole tradition: 100% estate sugarcane from the highlands of Michoacan, Mexico, crafted in small batches at a family-run vinata in a handmade steel pot still, bottled clear and unaged. It is in stock and available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor.
- Proof / ABV: 98 proof / 49% ABV (confirm on bottle — one source lists 40%)
- Size: 750mL
- Base: 100% fresh-pressed sugarcane juice (guarapo), Michoacan highlands, Mexico
- Production: small-batch, family-run vinata; handmade steel pot still; unaged (blanco style)
- Profile: rhum agricole–style; bright, grassy, and vegetal at full proof
Guarapo: Cane Juice, Not Molasses
Almost all rum starts as molasses, the byproduct of sugar refining. Gustoso starts earlier — with guarapo, the fresh juice pressed from cane grown at cool, high altitude in Michoacan, where mountain nights slow the ripening and layer the flavor. The family-run vinata pot-distills it and bottles it unaged at a bold 98 proof, so nothing stands between you and the cane: bright stalks, banana peel, roasted pineapple, and fresh-cut herbs. It is Mexico's answer to Martinique agricole. Compare it with the other Gustoso expressions or explore more cane-juice and artisanal rums at Del Mesa Liquor.
Tasting Notes
Nose: Bright and bold — fresh cane stalks, ripe banana peel, yeasty and vegetal notes.
Palate: Roasted pineapple and sweet plantain with a hint of fresh-cut herbs; full and textured at 98 proof.
Finish: Long, grassy, and warming, with lingering cane sweetness.
How to Enjoy
At 98 proof this is a powerhouse — sip it neat in small pours to taste the cane at full intensity, or tame it over ice. In cocktails it is a revelation: a cane-forward Daiquiri or a Mexican-spun Ti' Punch lets the guarapo character lead. A splash of soda and lime makes a long, refreshing highball.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is guarapo?
Freshly squeezed sugarcane juice — the base of rhum agricole–style rums, as opposed to molasses-based rums.
What is the ABV of Gustoso Guarapo?
49% ABV (98 proof) per most retail sources; one source lists 40%.
Is Gustoso Guarapo aged?
No — it is bottled clear and unaged (blanco style) so the fresh cane character leads.
How is it different from Gustoso Aguardiente Blanco?
The Blanco blends cane-juice pot-still rum with molasses-based column-still rum; the Guarapo is pure fresh cane juice, pot-distilled — a different, more agricole expression.
Cane juice at full proof — order Gustoso Aguardiente Guarapo Artisanal Rum online from Del Mesa Liquor in San Diego, CA, and taste the difference.