Ron Santa Teresa has named Nancy Duarte as its new master blender, the first woman to hold this position within the company, and the fifth altogether in the history of the brand.
Nancy Duarte has a Superior Technical degree in food and beverage, specializing in wines and fermented drinks. Since 1990, she has held several positions in the production area of Ron Santa Teresa, being recently responsible for the supervision of quality control, development, and formulation of liquids as well as innovations in the productive process and new products for the company portfolio.
From the time she entered the company, she absorbed the knowledge handed down to her by Jean-Paul Levert, the third master blender at Santa Teresa, and learned that rum is synonymous with patience. “Time is the best ally. Rum has taught me to cultivate the gift of patience because that is what you must have to allow the liquid to evolve, to keep developing and obtain those aromas that make the Ron Santa Teresa portfolio what it is,” said Nancy Duarte, fifth master blender.
A vital part of her responsibilities has been to supervise the entire production process, from raw materials obtained at the Hacienda Santa Teresa to the finished product, to guarantee the quality and consistency of the blends.
Duarte points out that, out of all the areas she is in charge of, the aging stage is one of her great passions because it is where the transformation of alcohol into rum takes place and where the mastery of the rum blender helps create exceptionally aged rums.
Among the products in the portfolio, her special favorite is Santa Teresa 1796. This Super Premium Rum is renowned as a pioneer in the use of the artisanal Solera Method, as the second ageing process which gives this rum its uniquely dry, smooth, and balanced characteristics. “I like Santa Teresa 1796 because it surprises you with its complexity and long-lasting taste on the palate, with its characteristic notes of nuts, chocolate, honey, and leather that can be enjoyed on any occasion,” she added.
As master blender, Nancy Duarte, along with Néstor Ortega will take the lead in the expansion plan to meet increasing international demand and together face the challenge to help establish the category of Superior Premium rum in the world.
Santa Teresa is the leading producer of rum in Venezuela with a tradition of five generations of master rum blenders during its 225 years of history. A company that has transformed crises into opportunities, recognized for the quality of its liquids and its social investment initiatives in the Revenga Municipality of Aragua state.
For more information, head over to Santa Teresa’s official website.
