Facundo Rum CollectionCoral Gables, Fla.-based Bacardi U.S.A. Inc. is expanding its Facundo Rum Collection of four hand-blended, aged sipping rums into California, following the products’ successful launches in Miami and New York in late 2013. A tribute to Bacardi Limited founder Don Facundo Bacardi Massó, the rums are all sourced from the Bacardi family’s private rum reserves.

“We are honored and humbled by the amazing response we have received for the collection,” said Facundo L. Bacardi, chairman of Bacardi Limited, Hamilton, Bermuda, in a statement. “Facundo showcases my family’s dedication to the art of rum, and we believe it offers a distinct experience unlike any other luxury sipping spirit. The Los Angeles and San Francisco markets are international hubs for culture, cuisine and luxury spirits, and we look forward to their warm welcome of the Facundo Rum Collection this fall.”

Chosen from 300 hand-selected blends sourced from the Bahamas, the four blends in the Facundo Rum Collection are released once a year under the guidance of Bacardi master blender Manny Oliver. This year’s fall release will be distributed in limited quantities to select on- and off-premise accounts in its current markets of Miami and New York, as well as the two new markets of Los Angeles and San Francisco.

“The West Coast marks a natural progression in establishing the Facundo Rum Collection in markets primed for luxury rum and new spirits that possess this kind of rich legacy, craftsmanship and rarity,” said Arvind Krishnan, vice president of marketing for rums at Bacardi U.S.A. Inc., in a statement. “We are excited to bring the collection to California and introduce consumers to rum as an art form.”

Neo, the first entry in the collection, is a blend of rums aged up to eight years before being filtered to remove color, resulting in a sheer blond hue, the company says. Smooth and balanced with sweet floral and almond notes, Neo is an aged, light sipping rum that can be enjoyed on the rocks or in a new twist on the classic Old Fashioned cocktail, it adds.

Eximo, a medium- to heavy-bodied dark rum, is the only rum in the collection that is blended before aging in a barrel for 10 years. This rum imparts a nutty flavor with hints of vanilla when sipped and is best enjoyed on the rocks or in an elevated classic cocktail, such as a Manhattan or Old Fashioned, the company notes.

Exquisito is a bold, dark rum blend that marries rums aged seven years with rums aged 23 years. Finished in sherry casks, the rum delivers a warm taste with notes of raisins and toasted nuts, the company says. Exquisito is best enjoyed neat, it adds.

Lastly, Paraiso is a blend of dark rums aged up to 23 years that is filtered over activated carbon and then rested in French (XO) casks. Paraiso imparts notes of chocolate, dark caramel and toasted walnuts and is best enjoyed neat, according to the company.

For more information, visit www.facundorum.com.