The process of creating alcohol, shipping it, packaging it and mass distribution can make for a very toxic and polluting footprint. But it doesn’t have to be that way. What if there was an all-natural rum that is locally sourced, created with renewable energy, in a place that practices energy-saving techniques all while finding ways to reuse and recycle rainwater? Enter Candela Mamajuana Rum, a spirit for the eco-conscious. With an award winning taste (it was dubbed “The Unofficial Drink of the Dominican Republic” by Fodor’s Travel), the spiced rum is a super premium Dominican spirit that embodies eco-consciousness through and through.

Candela, meaning “on fire” in Spanish slang, was created in 2016 by Alejandro Russo and his mother Lillian Arinoviche, who wanted to create the finest expression of this local drink to share with the rest of the world. Mamajuana, a traditional native drink of the Dominican Republic, is a blend of Dominican rum, natural spices and honey. Candela was one of the first premium versions of mamajuana and it is designed to be enjoyed neat or mixed in specialty cocktails. The spiced rum is handcrafted in the Dominican Republic with all-natural ingredients. It is distilled from fresh-pressed sugarcane juice, and then aged in American oak barrels.

And while April poses as the most eco-friendly time of year with Earth Day on April 22, this eco-friendly bottle is actually available for you to drink consciously all year round.

What goes into the bottle is locally-sourced in the Dominican Republic, and is distilled via a process that is exclusively powered by renewable energy. This energy is sourced from the sugarcane bagasse that’s transformed into biofuel at a waste-to-energy plant on the island. There are even energy-saving aging practices. Following the production of the spirit, the aging warehouse follows suit with natural sunlight lamps and intelligent building materials that naturally cool the building without A/C.  And the main water source? Rainwater! The epicenter of Candela Mamajuana also boasts a rainwater collection system which is purified in the water purification plant.

And thanks to ecoSPIRITIS, a zero-waste distributor, Candela boasts reusable packaging. Every single case sold contributes a percentage of profits to an Ocean Conservation program, while Candela will invest funds to remove plastic out of the oceans. Overall, Candela is saving 550g of Carbon Emissions per bottle sold.

Candela Mamajuana has plugged the islands’ favorite booze back into the mainstream with a beautiful bottle and a delish spiced rum that can stand alone or be the best part of your drinking concoctions. Candela boosts all-natural ingredients and is distilled from fresh-pressed sugarcane and rum in its native country, granting the bottle top-shelf priority.

“The first time I enjoyed mamajuana in the Dominican Republic, I was blown away by the feeling of vibrancy I received from the tantalizing tastes. After learning about its incredible history, I was inspired to learn how to make it so that I could share it with others,” said co-founder Alejandro Russo. “Candela Mamajuana represents more than a drink, it represents an entire Latin culture full of passion, spiciness and centuries worth of history. It’s meant to fuel that Latin fuego in every one while partying and celebrating life.”

Today, Candela Mamajuana Spiced Rum can now be found online, in hotels and at select retailers throughout Florida, California, New Jersey and New York including Total Wine & More, Costco, Publix Liquors, ABC Fine Wine & Spirits and Erewhon. drinkcandela.com.