Ron Arehucas Leads in the Canary Islands the First International Bootcamp for Women in the Spirits Industry

The Canary Islands have been chosen as the host destination for the first International Bootcamp Zafra Experience 2026, an event that will bring together women leaders from the spirits industry across Europe, Latin America, and the Caribbean, all members of Women Leading Rum & Spirits. The decision to launch this project in Gran Canaria is rooted in a powerful reason: few regions in the world maintain such a vibrant cultural and emotional connection to sugarcane and rum as this island. Here, tradition is not a historical concept; it is a landscape, an agricultural practice, a shared identity.

In this territory where the zafra sets the rhythm of the year and the fields of Arucas sway with the trade winds, the Arehucas distillery has become a symbol of continuity and excellence. With more than 140 years of history, the brand has built a model that blends heritage, sustainability, and innovation. Its own sugarcane plantation—certified as an organic operator—its zero‑waste system, and its aging cellar, the largest of its kind in Europe, position it as a European benchmark that honors its origins while driving the future of rum.

This context makes Gran Canaria the ideal setting to inaugurate a Bootcamp designed to connect territory, leadership, and strategic vision. The island offers authenticity, origin, and a cultural narrative that resonates with global industry trends: traceability, sustainability, territorial identity, and immersive experiences. For participants, witnessing the zafra firsthand and visiting the distillery where one of Europe’s most emblematic rums is produced represents an experience that cannot be replicated anywhere else.

For Priscila García, Export Manager at Ron Arehucas, this first edition carries special meaning:
“The Canary Islands share a cultural idiosyncrasy deeply linked to rum with other key countries in this category. Welcoming women leaders from different territories allows us to showcase the authenticity of our land, our way of understanding rum, and the importance of preserving a tradition that remains alive. For Arehucas, hosting this first edition is an honor and a responsibility: we want visitors to feel the magic of this place and understand why Gran Canaria is the perfect setting to launch a global movement.”

This territorial and cultural approach is precisely what makes the Bootcamp attractive to the invited brands. Participating in an edition born in the Canary Islands—and hosted by a historic house like Arehucas—means entering an ecosystem that combines authenticity, legacy, sustainability, and international projection. For brands, being part of this first edition is not only a visibility opportunity; it is a way to align with a movement that is redefining the future of the industry through collaboration, diversity, and innovation.

The Zafra Experience 2026 Bootcamp will offer an intensive program that includes personalized mentorships, strategic training, practical workshops, technical visits, gastronomic experiences, and cultural activities in Arucas, Vegueta, and Agaete. For participating brands, this gathering represents a privileged space to strengthen networks, share knowledge, connect with emerging leaders, and position themselves within a global community that is transforming the spirits industry.

With this first edition, Gran Canaria consolidates itself as a new epicenter of rum—a territory where Canarian tradition meets the female leadership shaping the future. And Arehucas, as host, reaffirms its role as the brand that opens the path, inspires, and connects the international community from a land where rum is not only produced—it is felt.

With this initiative, Women Leading Rum & Spirits reaffirms its commitment to creating real opportunities for women in the sector, connecting training, visibility, and professional development in an international environment. This first Bootcamp is sponsored by Ron Arehucas and supported by allied brands such as Ron Abuelo, Planteray Rum, Bacardí, Botran, Ron Centenario, Citadelle Gin de France, Xibal Gin, Pedro Mandinga Rum, Barceló, Rhum Barbancourt, Ron Millonario, Ron Tepuy, Canaïma Gin, Cocuy Saroche, Cacique, and Bacan.