Romero Distilling Co., Co-founder: TOMAS ROMERO

TRL: Who is Tomas Romero?

Romero Distilling Co. is a family-owned and operated rum distillery based in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Building on the largely untold history of rum running in the west, all of our rums are made from scratch using Canadian-made molasses and glacier-fed water that originates on the Eastern Slopes of the Canadian Rockies.  My Dad and I started the Distillery in 2018 and we have quickly grown to be the largest rum distillery in Canada making rum from scratch.

Outside of work, I am a proud husband and father of 3 kids.  I like to spend my time outdoors in the mountains, playing sports, and chasing kids around to their various activities, which, let’s be honest, takes up the majority of the free time that I have these days.

TRL: What does the rum mean to you? What made you fall in love with rum and when did it happen?

Rum for me is getting together with friends and family and enjoying time together.  

It’s a bit of a funny story about how Rum and I got acquainted.  Growing up out west in Canada whisky is the common drink.  Unfortunately, or fortunately depending on how you look at it now, no one likes me when I drink whisky – haha.  So I started getting into rum and exploring the nicer sipping rums out there.  I really enjoyed the diversity of the category and how approachable many of the rums were, and most importantly, my friends and family still wanted to talk to me the next day!

TRL: Three essential characteristics that define the rum according to your perspective.

The first would be the ingredients – our glacier-fed water has an exceptional minerality and overall purity to it that translates directly to the rum.  In addition, our molasses is Canadian made by Crosby’s in New Brunswick, making our rum truly Canadian.

The second would be our climate.  In Calgary, we are in the foothills in the shadow of the Rocky Mountains.  The climate is arid, and we experience a unique phenomenon known as the Chinook.  The Chinook brings very drastic pressure and temperature fluctuations for 6 months of the year.  These large swings in pressure and temperature drive the rum in and out of the barrel staves during maturation.  Our dry climate combined with our wild weather imparts distinctive characteristics on the rum when compared to rums made in more stable and humid tropical climates.  

The third would be the history that we are building on with the rum.  Many people are not aware, but there was a significant amount of rum that ran through the West, and one of the main hubs in Canada was an area called the Crowsnest Pass.  I grew up in the area and have friends who are direct descendants of the major players during Canada’s prohibition, from 1916-1924.  The most notable being Florence Lassandro, who was the only woman ever to be hanged in Alberta for her involvement in Canada’s most notorious rum-running murder.  We are quite aware that there isn’t much that ties rum to Canada, but we thought that this was a unique piece of Canadian history that we could build on that has strong ties to rum that we also happen to be connected to.

TRL: What is the most important contribution you have made to the rum industry?

We are helping build diversity in the category by expanding the boundaries where rum is made.  

On the fun side of things, we set an official Guinness World Record for the world’s largest Cuba Libre on July 7, 2022, at 1006 liters.

TRL: Benefits that the rum industry has given you.

The rum industry has allowed me to operate a family business.  We have family and friends working throughout all aspects of our operation, making it a rewarding experience.  Working with family and friends is not without its challenges, but it has been a lot of fun.  On a lighter note, I also get to travel to a lot of warm places in the winter for business.  My kids are pretty jealous when I take off for a week in the winter to somewhere warm and they are stuck at home in minus 20° C – haha.  

TRL: What is your favorite place for drinking rum?

Definitely at our bar at the distillery.  There are always old friends or family stopping by and our bartenders are always coming up with a new concoction to try.

TRL: Favorite drink + Recipe

My favorite drink mixed with our rum is smoked old-fashioned.  
• 2 ounces Romero Amber Rum
• 1 ounce Demerara simple syrup
• A couple dashes of aromatic bitters
• Smoked with the stave from one of our rum barrels

TRL: Why is it important to educate the rum consumer?  

Amongst the casual consumer rum still has some ground to cover when it comes to being seen as a premium spirit.  Many people don’t see rum as a category that you can sip on to enjoy.  We need to continue to educate the consumer to grow the overall value of the category.

TRL: Is the commitment to sustainable development the key to success for the permanence of the rum industry in the world? Why?

The answer to this question is in the definition of sustainable development.  If development is not sustainable, the industry, by definition, cannot be sustained.  We require clean water, air, and fertile soil to produce rum.  It is incumbent on the industry to do its part to produce in a responsible manner that maintains the viability of these important aspects of the ecosystem.  

TRL: What are your next goals in the rum industry?

Our goal over the next 5 years is very simple – it is to continue to systematically grow the brand in North America and Europe.  

TRL: Why is the role of the bartender important in the rum industry?

The reasons here are endless.  Some of the more salient points would be communicating the attributes of different rums with patrons and creating drinks that help maintain and grow interest in the rum category.  A good bartender turns a simple drink into an experience through their knowledge and craftsmanship.  People tend to remember the experience, and if that experience puts rum in a good light, it is invaluable in growing the industry.

TRL: How can people learn more about you? Website? Social media page?

To learn more about Romero Distilling Co. please visit www.romerodistilling.com or you can follow us on social media @romerodistilling for Facebook or Instagram.  If you are ever in the Calgary area, the best way to learn more about us would be to come for a tour where you can learn about the history of rum running in the west, sample our rums, and go through the distillery to learn how they are made.