Motril is an enclave located amongst the fertile plains formed by the Guadalfeo river, where sugar cane has been cultivated for 1,200 years and is inextricably linked to the city’s passage through history. Only a handful of places in the Old Continent (i.e. Europe), are suited to the cultivation of such an exotic plant as sugar cane. And it is from the distilling of this plant´s juice that rum is extracted.
It is not widely known that this plant, originally from Asia, was introduced to and adapted to these lands by Muslims, and that from here it crossed the Atlantic, taken to Ibero-America by Spaniards. It became so important there, that it would be impossible to fully understand Latin American culture without the crop.
From southern Spanish shores, the plant arrived at the Canary Islands and Madeira in the 15th century. Later, during Columbus’ second voyage to America, sugar cane was introduced to the Americas, and its cultivation became so widespread that it has, since then, become considered an important component of Caribbean culture.
Since the second half of the 20th century, Motril has been associated with its rum, which proudly bears its name, and its history, throughout Spain and the rest of the world.
The production of sugar cane on the plains of the Guadalfeo river ceased in 2006 when farmers discovered that they could get a better return from producing tropical fruit such as mangoes.
Ron Montero Distillery
Ron (rum) Montero distillery was founded in 1963 by a family which has been cultivating sugar cane for generations, whose guiding principles have always been quality of its products and artisanal production techniques, the laying of enormous importance on the quality of raw materials used, and scrupulous respect for the Crianza times in the system of “Soleras” and “Criaderas”.
April 1st, 1929 Don Francisco Montero Martin was born in Motril. He is the youngest of six children and from his childhood had a close relationship with the family business, Azucarera Montero distillery, which today produces rum, elaborated from sugar cane, bears the same name.
In 1963 he decided to pursue his dream: to produce a superior quality rum, using traditional methods. The road ahead was not an easy one, but thanks to his perseverance, his visionary spirit and his business acumen, he succeeded in placing golden rum in the Spanish market, which hitherto had little or no knowledge of this product. The results of his entrepreneurial acumen are Ron Pálido Montero and Ron Montero Gran Reserva.
From the deep knowledge he gained growing up in a sugar cane cultivating and processing environment, Don Francisco Montero developed his own method of producing rum, and rumours of his secret formula were rife. Notwithstanding, he maintains that his fundamental principle is to source the finest quality raw materials, use traditional artisanal methods of production and of utmost importance, “not be overly hasty in wanting to sell the product”.
Today, “Uncle Paco” is proud that Motril is known for his rum and states quite categorically: “No one believes that Rum Montero will disappear, because there is enough rum for years to come. I will depart, but Rum Montero will continue with the same supreme quality and will maintain its unique identity. The distillery will be in good hands, because those who take over have been brought up in the tradition; they were trained by me”.
In 2007, Joaquín Martín Montero, nephew of the founder and director of the last sugar cane cultivator in Europe and the only molasses distillery in Spain, bought Ron Montero distillery. His wife, María Elena Targa, took charge of reforming the distillery, and frequently leads the guided tours. Since that same year, their daughter, Andrea Martín Targa, has managed the distillery; youthful and enterprising, she has very clear ideas: “to maintain the founder´s spirit and grow, little by little, without ever jeopardizing the quality we have become known for, throughout our long history”.
Today Ron Montero sells 240.000 litres of rum a year and the Motrileños, the people of Motril, together with those who have had the opportunity to try this rum, are its most enthusiastic ambassadors.
The distillery offers free guided tours to the public from Tuesday to Saturday, at 12 noon in Spanish and at 1pm in English. There is no need to book but you may wish to contact the distillery by email at visitas@ronmontero.com. There is no admission charge.
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