Don Q facts for kids
A bottle of Ron Don Q - Cristal
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| Inventor | Juan Serrallés Colón |
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| Inception | 1865 |
| Manufacturer | Destilería Serrallés |
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Don Q is a well-known Puerto Rican brand of a special kind of drink called rum. It is made, bottled, and sold by a company called Destilería Serrallés in Ponce, Puerto Rico. Don Q is the most popular rum brand in Puerto Rico, a place where a lot of the rum sold in the United States is made. The name "Don Q" comes from Don Quixote, a famous character from a classic Spanish book by Miguel de Cervantes. Don Q is sold all over the world and is a big competitor to other brands like Bacardi. Even though it's now sold in the United States, Don Q is still the top seller in Puerto Rico.
Contents
The Story of Don Q
Starting a Sweet Business
The Serrallés family moved from a region in Spain called Catalonia to Puerto Rico in the mid-1830s. They started a large sugar cane farm near Ponce. They were very good at growing sugar cane and turning it into sugar. They sold their sugar to countries like the United States, the United Kingdom, and France.
Their farm became very successful. It grew so big that it was almost like a small town! It had its own train tracks, homes for workers, a way to move goods, a store, and even a private airport that later became public (Mercedita Airport in Ponce). Over time, many parts of this big operation became part of the city of Ponce.
Making the First Drinks
In 1865, the family decided to open a place to make drinks right on their farm, which was called "Hacienda Mercedita". That year, Juan Serrallés, a smart businessman, brought a special machine called a still from France. This machine helped him make his very first barrels of rum.
The Serrallés company made several local rum brands, but most of them didn't last long. Seeing how well other rum makers on the island were doing, the family decided to create a special brand they could sell to other countries. The Don Q brand was launched in 1932. It quickly became popular with people in Puerto Rico. Many locals preferred Don Q over its rival, Bacardi, which they sometimes found to have a stronger taste or thought of as a foreign brand.
By the 1960s, you could find Don Q in most major supermarkets in Puerto Rico, like Pueblo and Amigo.
How Don Q is Made
From Sugar Cane to Bottle
Don Q is made from sugar cane. The way it tastes depends on several things: the type of yeast used for fermentation (a process where yeast turns sugar into alcohol), the method of distillation, how long it's aged, and how different batches are mixed together.
To make Don Q, they use molasses (a thick syrup from sugar cane), water, a special mixture called mash, and yeast. This mixture is then put through a continuous still, which is a machine that separates the alcohol. After this, the clear liquid is put into oak barrels. By law in Puerto Rico, it must stay in these barrels for at least a year. This aging process gives the rum its golden color and unique taste. If any flavors or spices are added, it happens at this stage. The final taste of Don Q comes from a secret recipe that is blended into the rum right before it's ready.
Selling and Sharing Don Q
Where You Can Find It
Today, Don Q is sold in many places, including the United States, Mexico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Spain. It is still the top-selling rum in Puerto Rico.
The company, Destileria Serrallés, has done a lot of advertising for its rums. You could see TV ads on Puerto Rican channels for many years. The brand has also supported local sports teams, like the Leones de Ponce baseball team and the Leones de Ponce basketball team. Don Q has even appeared in some movies! You can sometimes find small sample bottles of Don Q in supermarkets and liquor stores.
Awards and Recognitions
Winning Big Prizes
Even though Don Q is often sold at a mid-range price, many of its different types have won awards in international competitions for alcoholic drinks. For example, its Don Q Gran Añejo rum won a double gold medal, two silver medals, and one bronze medal at the San Francisco World Spirits Competitions between 2008 and 2012.
In 2010, Don Q also did very well at the Spirits International Prestige (SIP) Awards in San Diego, California. Competing against hundreds of rums from all over the world, several Don Q products like Don Q Añejo, Don Q Gran Añejo, Don Q Cristal, Don Q Coco, Don Q Mojito, and Don Q Limón won top awards in the "Platinum-Best in Class" and "Gold" categories. What's special about the SIP Awards is that regular consumers are the judges, not experts.
In September 2011, the American Academy of Hospitality Sciences gave Don Q Gran Añejo a five-star rating. This is a very rare honor, usually given to the best achievements in travel and hospitality products. Don Q Gran Añejo was the first rum ever to receive this special award!
Don Q in Pop Culture
Don Q has been featured in the 2012 comedy movie Ted. It is also mentioned in the song "Come Get Her" by the music group Rae Sremmurd.
Types of Don Q
Don Q comes in many different varieties. Some of the most popular ones include:
- Don Q Cristal
- Don Q Limón (Lime Flavored Rum)
- Don Q Pasión (Passion Fruit Flavored Rum)
- Don Q Coco (Coconut Flavored Rum)
- Don Q Mojito (Lime & Mint Flavored Rum)
- Don Q Gold
- Don Q 151
- Don Q Añejo
- Don Q Gran Añejo
- Don Q Double Aged Rum
- Don Q Signature Release Single Barrel 2007
- Don Q Oak Barrel Spiced
Images for kids
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Don Q advertisement from 1949
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Don Q served at Intercontinental Hotel in San Juan, Puerto Rico
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