LA RUTA DE LA CAÑA

The Fortín distillery invites you to discover its rum, the most famous in the country. A rum renowned for the originality of its production process, based on caña honey. This thick, black liquid resembling bee honey is obtained by evaporating mosto (vesou), the juice extracted from freshly cut cane. The technique of coction and condensation of the mosto, over low heat and in the open air, until caramelization to transform it into "honey", dates back to colonial times, when mechanized means of bringing the liquid to distilleries did not yet exist, and it had to be preserved. This part of the process, now modernized, gives the final product all its body, bouquet and aromas. A sine qua non for the rum to bear the Caña Paraguaya name. The honey is then diluted and fermented in large vats to produce a 6-8% cane wine called guarapo. The guarapo is then distilled to produce " caña fuerte ". This 70°C alcohol preserves the organoleptic properties of the raw material, thanks to its low temperature. The caña fuerte is then filtered and aged in wooden casks for several years before bottling. This 100% organic production process has earned Fortín several international awards. The spirit's powerful character and singular floral notes can be found in Heroica (distributed in France), whose name pays tribute to the courage of the inhabitants of Pirebebuy during the Triple Alliance war. A day trip from La Asunción begins with a visit to the historical museum and Franciscan church of Pirebebuy. Then it's on to the cañaverales, the plantations where cane harvesting (70% by hand) takes place between April and November. The tour is guided by a cellar master, who shows us a typical ox-drawn carreta (cart) and an old trapiche, the traditional crusher used to extract the juice from the cane. We then visit the industrial plant, with explanations of the fermentation and distillation process, followed by the bodegas (cellars), where the rums are aged. Fortín S.A. is the town's main employer. Its owners are keen to make the process as environmentally friendly as possible, including recycling all residues. There were no rum sales on site at the time of our visit, so you'll probably have to visit Piribebuy's grocery stores or the capital's boutiques.