Distillery
El Amparo
El Amparo is a pure single-origin rum from Ecuador, produced in the Jipijapa area (Manabí province). It is a non-aged rum/aguardiente made from cane juice (Cubana Negra variety) and is often bottled at high strength (around 57.5–60% ABV).
- Jipijapa · Manabí · Ecuador
- 1 product
El Amparo
Meet the producer
The story
The El Amparo name is linked to the Baque Zorrilla family: the name is said to have been coined by Gonzalo Almanzor Zorrilla Toala and production is currently associated with Carlos Baque Zorrilla, described as a third-generation producer in the Jipijapa area. The product has emerged internationally through selections and bottlings distributed by external traders and independent bottlers.
Production philosophy
A craft, terroir-driven approach: use of local sugarcane (Cubana Negra), traditional hand harvesting, spontaneous fermentations and small-scale distillation to preserve the varietal characteristics of the raw material.
Territory
Jipijapa, Manabí province, western coast of Ecuador (sugarcane-producing area).
Production method
Spontaneous fermentation with indigenous yeasts (typically 5–7 days) in fermentation tanks of variable capacity; distillation in a small copper still (about 500 L, pot still with a short external column); the distillate is bottled unaged and at high strengths (approximately 57.5–60% ABV).
Distillation
Distillation in a small-capacity copper still (~500 L) configured as a pot still with a short external column; natural fermentation with indigenous yeasts.
Ageing
Unaged (white)
Characteristics
- Type
- Distillery
- City
- Jipijapa
- Categories
- Ecuadorian rum
- agricultural rum
- pure single-origin rum
- high-strength rum
- Raw materials
- sugarcane (var. Cubana Negra)
- cane juice
- Representative products
- Ron Equatorial 70cl - El Amparo
What makes it distinctive
- Produced in Jipijapa (Manabí), Ecuador
- Made from hand-harvested Cubana Negra sugarcane
- Spontaneous fermentation and small copper pot still distillation
- Bottled unaged at high strengths (around 57.5–60% ABV)
- Linked to the Baque Zorrilla family (multiple generations of local production)
- International exposure via selections and bottlings by external selectors/bottlers