Ron Abuelo: Distilled Tradition with Female Leadership

Since its founding in 1950, Ron Abuelo has been much more than a Panamanian rum brand: it has been a reflection of a family history that honors tradition, quality, and commitment to its people. What many don’t know is that, from its earliest days, women have been present in its evolution.

In those early years, their participation focused on administrative and support tasks, but over time, their presence has grown steadily and significantly. Today, women are not only part of the brand’s operational machinery, but also lead key processes, create the liquids that define its essence, drive innovation, and project Ron Abuelo’s identity to the world.

Women Transforming the Industry

Larissa Arjona, President and Co-Founder of Women Leading Rum & Spirits (WLR&S) and Export Marketing Manager of Ron Abuelo, is one of those female voices that embodies the brand’s spirit. In her vision, rum is not just a drink: it’s a narrative built with patience, authenticity, and sensitivity.

She, along with other women such as Digna Bethancourt, Sandra Rodrigues, Karin Macrobio, Delia Barrios, Amparo Sedelmeier, and Patricia Porras, represents a generation that has transformed the industry from within. Each of them leads with knowledge, passion, and purpose. From quality control to sustainability, from liquid innovation to commercial strategy, their influence is felt in every bottle released into the world.

Commitment to equity and development

Currently, women represent 30% of the direct workforce at Varela Hermanos, the parent company of Ron Abuelo, in countries such as Panama, Ecuador, Costa Rica, and Spain. This figure, more than just a number, is a testament to the company’s commitment to equity and the development of female talent.

Their contributions extend throughout the entire value chain: from the field and the distillery, to the laboratory, the office, and international markets. And although there are no exclusive programs for women, the company promotes training and leadership opportunities on equal terms, backed by certifications such as Bonsucro, which guarantee respect for labor rights and gender equality throughout the sugarcane production chain.

Varela Hermanos: Impact Beyond Rum

Founded in 1908, Varela Hermanos has not only created an emblematic brand like Ron Abuelo, but has also built a network of impact that goes far beyond the distilled spirit. The company directly impacts approximately 600 employees across Panama, Ecuador, Costa Rica, and Spain.

This reach is multiplied through a solid value network that includes more than 3,000 suppliers and nearly 4,000 customers including distributors, retailers, and strategic partners, in addition to an international network of 50 distributors that bring their brands to more than 50 countries. Each of these connections represents families who find in Varela Hermanos not only an economic source of support, but also a relationship of trust and a driver of development for the markets where they operate.

More than a beverage, a narrative

For Larissa Arjona, rum is a story distilled with patience and authenticity. Being an ambassador for Ron Abuelo means representing Panamanian culture and transmitting a legacy of more than 70 years of rum history and more than 116 years of family tradition. In her words, those who represent the brand must have authenticity, technical knowledge, narrative charisma, and a sustainable vision. It’s not just about talking about a spirit, but about conveying an identity.

When Larissa speaks to women who dream of entering the rum industry, her message is direct and hopeful:

For Women Leading Rum & Spirits, Ron Abuelo represents a living example of what it means to embrace female leadership. It’s a brand that not only recognizes women’s talent but also fosters it, celebrates it, and makes it an essential part of its identity. Therefore, Ron Abuelo is not only important to WLR&S: it is an inspiration, a reference, and proof that change is possible when you lead with conviction, sensitivity, and a vision for the future.

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Source of Information

The information and images used in this article are courtesy of Ron Abuelo.