The Owner of El Merkury, Sofia Deleon Just Launched Tenango Rum Into 30+ PLCB Stores Across PA
It wasn’t enough for the budding entrepreneur Sofia Deleon to have the most Instagrammed churros. Within the last 5 years Sofia has grown her Guatemalan street-food restaurant El Merkury to not only include her flagship on Chestnut Street but also a stall at the iconic Reading Terminal Market. Now Sofia has just made a big splash in the world of spirits.
Just this week, Sofia announced the launch of Tenango Rum into 30+ PLCB stores across the state of Pennsylvania. Fans of rum cocktails may have recently sipped Tenango Rum at a variety of regional PA bars and restaurants but the spirit is now available for purchase in-store for $54.99 at many PLCB stores, or for online nationwide purchase for $49.99.
To celebrate the statewide launch, Deleon, in collaboration with Resa Mueller of R&D Cocktail Bar, is hosting Tenango & Terroir — an evening of featured Tenango cocktails, meet and greet/Q&A with Deleon, with small bites courtesy of El Merkury – on Monday, March 25, beginning at 5 pm.
Deleon grew up inspired by stories of her Great-grandmother distilling Cusha, a traditional Guatemalan moonshine, at home, and created Tenango in her honor. A 100% single source rum, Tenango Rum is additive free and made from Grade A molasses (the dark, sweet liquid byproduct of manufacturing sugarcane), and is aged in second use American White Oak barrels.
“I grew up hearing stories about my revered Tatarabuela, and have always felt connected to her. I am sure it is where I get my entrepreneurial spirit” said Sofia Deleon, the owner of Tenango Rum. “It is in her honor that I founded the brand with the mission to reshape the world’s perception of rum and create a lasting impact on the lives of Guatemalan women and their families. I believe that culture and heritage should be at the heart of every sip, and that by honoring the traditions of our ancestors, we can redefine the rum landscape.”
Tenango is a new spirit that honors Deleon’s familial legacy and the culture and flavors of Guatemala. Authentically made in a Guatemalan distillery, Tenango (750ml, 80 proof, $49.99) is an homage to family, good times, and the entrepreneurial spirit. The rum is a vessel for cultural celebration and sustainability, and the launch aims to support in the empowerment of Guatemalan communities via employing women and craftspeople to hand-make the vibrant covers that adorn each bottle. The traditional Mayan sheaths are woven on a traditional foot loom by a Guatemalan Kik’che’ Women’s co-op that specializes in this cultural practice.
Tenango prides itself on being a single source rum – this term refers to all ingredients originating in the same environment. Every aspect and ingredient of Tenango is Guatemalan including the sugar cane. The quality-controlled fermentation, bottling and aging all takes place in Guatemala, meaning that the spirit is made with intentionally chosen, high quality ingredients without any mystery additives or colorings. It is distilled in the traditional Spanish style method on a column still, allowing for a more flavorful rum that takes on major characteristics from the barrel.
The spirit’s complex flavor profile is a true love letter to Guatemalan terroir. Rich notes of cocoa, banana, coffee, almond, and tropical fruits — yielded by a more pronounced fermentation process in the balmy La Costa region — seamlessly dance with the whiskey notes imparted by the second use barrel, adding flavors of butterscotch and caramel, making this the perfect rum for whiskey lovers. Tenango is best sipped neat or over ice, but also lends itself to classic and nouveau cocktails alike, including Espresso Martinis, Old Fashioneds, Sours, Manhattans, and more.
Find Tenango Rum at the following PLCB stores:
#5170 411 North 20th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19130
#9101 2040 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19130
#5154 1112 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107
#5161 1515 Locust Street, Philadelphia PA 19102
#5185 180 West Girard Avenue, Philadelphia PA 19123
#5104 1940 South Christopher Columbus Boulevard, Philadelphia, PA 19148
#5119 724 South Street, Philadelphia, PA 19147
#5167 1403 Washington Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19146
#5126 3101 West Girard Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19130
#5156 4233 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104
#5195 7702 City Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19151
#2344 1014 Baltimore Pike, Springfield, PA 19064
#4614 119 West City Avenue, Bala Cynwyd, PA 19004
#4646 62 Greenfield Avenue, Ardmore, PA 19003
#4636 1 Station Circle Narberth, PA 19072
#2331 5035 Township Line Road, Drexel Hill, PA 19026
#4608 922 West Lancaster Avenue, Bryn Mawr, PA 19010
#2327 789 East Lancaster Avenue, Villanova, PA 19085
#2343 127 West Lancaster Avenue, Wayne, PA 19087
#4624 125 West Dekalb Pike, King Of Prussia, PA 19406
#2342 1083 West Baltimore Pike, Media, PA 19063
#2334 1751 Wilmington Pike, Glen Mills, PA 19342
#1516 933 Paoli Pike, West Chester, PA 19380
#1501 132 Woodcutter Street, Exton, PA 19341
#944 7 Buttonwood Drive, Yardley, PA 19067
#2332 1991 Sproul Road, Broomall, PA 19008
#4623 1440 Bethlehem Pike, Flourtown, PA 19031
#912 6542 Lower York Road, New Hope, PA 18938
#237 339 Fifth Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15222
#235 2001 Smallman Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15222
#260 1955 Wharton Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15203
In addition to these New Jersey retailers and more:
Buy Rite Williamstown (2031 N Black Horse Pike, Williamstown, NJ 08094)
Buy Rite West Deptford (1075 Mantua Pike, West Deptford, NJ 08096)
Buy Rite Holmdel (2101 NJ-35 Suite 407, Holmdel, NJ 07733)
Max’s Beer, Wine & Liquor (116 3rd Ave, Neptune City, NJ 07753)
Wine Outlet (2130 NJ-35, Holmdel, NJ 07733)
Rum lovers can order craft cocktails made using Tenango at a growing list of on-premise accounts in Pennsylvania, including top Philadelphia bars Bolo, Royal Boucherie, Martha and R&D.
