Distillery
Santa Maria
Santa Maria (commercially known as Ie Rum Santa Maria) is a Japanese rum producer on Iejima Island, Okinawa Prefecture. It produces rum from locally grown sugarcane, with a white line (Crystal) and an oak‑aged version (Gold).
- Iejima (伊江村) · Okinawa · Japan
- Since 2011
- 2 products
The story
The project, born from the conversion of a bioethanol plant on Iejima, took shape in 2011: that year production of Ie Rum Santa Maria began using exclusively sugarcane grown on the island. The initiative aimed to enhance local raw materials and create a product typical of the island.
Production philosophy
Showcase local raw materials: spirits are produced exclusively from Iejima sugarcane, using a small‑scale approach focused on preserving the island’s territorial character.
Territory
Iejima (island), Okinawa Prefecture, Japan
Production method
Production based on locally sourced sugarcane juices concentrated into syrup; fermentation and distillation with a discontinuous pot still to obtain the base spirits. The Crystal line is kept neutral through ageing in stainless steel, while the Gold line is aged in wooden barrels.
Distillation
Pot still (discontinuous still)
Ageing
Crystal: ageing in stainless steel tanks; Gold: ageing in oak barrels; Voyage series: maturations in vintage casks (ex-sherry, ex-wine, ex-bourbon, ex-brandy, ex-scotch).
Characteristics
- Type
- Distillery
- City
- Iejima (伊江村)
- Categories
- agricultural rum
- white rum (Crystal)
- oak-aged rum (Gold)
- Japanese rum
- local / artisanal producer
- Raw materials
- sugarcane juice (produced in Iejima)
- Casks and ageing vessels
- oak barrels
- ex-sherry casks
- ex-bourbon casks
- ex-wine casks
- ex-brandy casks
- ex-scotch casks
- stainless steel tanks
- Representative products
- Ie Rum Santa Maria Crystal (White Rum) 720ml
- Ie Rum Santa Maria Gold (Oak-aged) 720ml
What makes it distinctive
- Produced exclusively with sugarcane cultivated in Iejima
- Distillation with a discontinuous pot still
- Crystal (white rum) and Gold (oak‑aged) lines
- Distillery born from the repurposing of a bioethanol plant; production started in 2011