The liquor company owned by Colombian presidential candidate Abelardo de la Espriella continues to lose money and has shut down its operation in the United States, according to an investigation by La Silla Vacía based on the company’s most recently published financial statements.

Dominio De la Espriella, the firm that produces and markets the candidate’s spirits brands, reported a net loss of $503 million COP (about $124,000 USD) for the year ended December 31, 2025, according to its published financial statements. With that result, the company has accumulated losses of roughly $3.88 billion COP (about $960,000 USD) since it was founded in late 2020, the same statements show. (USD figures throughout are approximate, converted at the 2025 average of about 4,050 COP per USD.)

Dominio De la Espriella produces Ron Defensor 12-year and 18-year rum and Vino Fratellone wine. Before De la Espriella’s entry into politics, it had become his most visible business project outside his law firm, La Silla Vacía reported. A bottle of the rum sells for between $265,000 and $351,000 COP and the Fratellone wine for $189,000 COP, according to prices listed by De la Espriella Style, the candidate’s merchandising company, as cited by La Silla Vacía.

The brand was formally launched in 2022 alongside vallenato singer Silvestre Dangond, who holds an 8% stake through the company Music Dreams, according to La Silla Vacía.

The US push was the company’s most ambitious bet. When Dominio De la Espriella launched, it set a target of more than $4 million USD in US sales, the outlet reported. According to the financial statements published for 2023 and 2024, the company recorded only $1,199 million COP in international sales — about $272,000 USD, or 7% of the target, La Silla Vacía reported. The 2025 statements report that “se cerró la operación” (“the operation was closed”) in that market.

The US chapter was brief. The financial statements show that in 2023, when the company entered the country, it received an injection of $1 million USD (then $4,332 million COP) from US investors, identified in the accounts only as “Dominio Estados Unidos,” money meant to fund production of 33,000 bottles, according to La Silla Vacía. A year later, the company reported that the deal had fallen through and that it now owed the $1 million back. La Silla Vacía reported that the recorded obligation fell from $1,891 million COP in 2023 to $799 million COP in 2024; the 2025 statements list a remaining “obligation for rescission of the US operation contract” of $722 million COP (about $178,000 USD).

With the US exit, revenue dropped sharply. La Silla Vacía reported a roughly 60% fall in operating income; the company’s statements show net operating revenue declining from $1,637 million COP in 2024 to $687 million COP in 2025. The 2025 statements report just $7 million COP (about $1,800 USD) in cash at banks, with the company’s resources concentrated in rum and wine inventory valued at $1,397 million COP and $1,403 million COP in receivables.

“Se cerró la operación” — “the operation was closed,” reads Dominio De la Espriella’s 2025 financial statement, describing the company’s exit from the US market (as reported by La Silla Vacía).

The statements also show how the business has been funded. Thirteen of the company’s 15 shareholders have contributed an additional $4,829 million COP (about $1.2 million USD) on top of the $500 million COP in founding capital to increase their stakes, but the shares have not been issued and the money remains recorded as a liability, according to La Silla Vacía. The candidate himself has been financing the operation, lending the company $1,695 million COP (about $420,000 USD) through 2025, the outlet reported.

A separate La Silla Vacía investigation into De la Espriella’s business holdings reported that 14 other companies hold stakes in the venture. According to that reporting, the 50% owner is Somos Inversiones, a Panama-based company whose papers list figureheads, and the structure also includes companies tied to relatives of Hugues Rodríguez — convicted for promoting paramilitary groups — and to oil businessman Serafino Iácono.

The US retail presence has also wound down. Liquor Dreams, the Instagram account that presented itself as Ron Defensor’s official ambassador in the United States, stopped posting about the brand, and a new management has been announced for the store in the Coral Gables area of Florida, La Silla Vacía reported. The venue had served as a place for De la Espriella to host Colombian politicians, among them former president Álvaro Uribe, according to the outlet.

The US departure follows the closure of De la Espriella’s Místico restaurant, also in Coral Gables, where he had likewise promoted his liquor brand. La Silla Vacía said it confirmed that Místico closed months ago and that a different restaurant now operates in its former location. Among Místico’s partners, the outlet reported, were Dangond and Héctor Amaris, known as “Oso Yogui.”

The reporting lands as De la Espriella heads into the June 21, 2026 presidential runoff against leftist senator Iván Cepeda. De la Espriella, an attorney campaigning on a hardline security platform, led the May 31 first round with 43.7% of the vote to Cepeda’s 40.9%, according to results reported by CNN and other international outlets.

The spectacular rum weekend begins on Saturday, November 9, at the Courtyard By Marriott in Coral Gables with a series of in-depth seminars dealing with rum production, tiki cocktails and a bit of rum history, sailing the high seas with the British Royal Navy.

This year’s seminars include “The Cave Above The Clouds,” focusing on production and aging techniques of Guatemala’s legendary cane spirits; “Tiki Evolution,” which explores the historic rums and iconic cocktails of the legendary Mai-Kai Polynesian Restaurant and Molokai Bar; and the creation of “Mister Fogg,” discussing the re-birth of an authentic and historically accurate Navy rum by Alexandre Gabriel.

On Sunday, November 10, the rum education weekend continues with a Grand Tasting event at the historic Coral Gables Woman’s Club from 12:30 to 5pm, featuring several hundred rums on display for sampling, with exhibits by several dozen rum companies and a Caribbean-theme catering menu with special offerings made to pair with the rum.

On Monday, November 11, a special session is held at the Woman’s Club from 12:30 to 5pm just for members of the spirits trade, attracting bartenders, food and beverage managers, importers, brokers, distributors, buyers for liquor store chains, and liquor retailers. Also, members of the spirits press will be in attendance.

Advance tickets are available online for $49 to $59 before Friday, November 1. After that date, and at the door, ticket prices are slightly higher.

For more details and ticket information, call 707-278-6736 or visit https://www.rumrenaissance.com/

Rum Renaissance Festival (photo: Loren Moss)

Once again, hundreds of rum connoisseurs, collectors, judges and enthusiastic rum lovers will mingle with producers, master distillers, importers, distributors, retailers and members of the spirits trade at the Coral Gables Woman’s Club on Sunday, November 12 from 2 to 5pm. VIP entrance begins at 12:30.

Attendees will enjoy the vast number of rums on exhibit by award-winning producers, and frequent the Private Collection Rum Tasting Bar — with more than a hundred limited edition, vintage and prestigious luxury edition expressions for discriminating palates.

The Saturday, November 11 Seminars are presented by some of the very best rum producers and experts in the field.

“It’s such a pleasure to host so many great rum producers and to welcome back more than a thousand rum fans in South Florida for the Miami Rum Festival – 14th Anniversary Celebration,” said festival producer Robert Burr. “The category of rum continues to expand with an ever-growing variety of offerings, from every-day favorites and classics, to the most amazing examples offered by the legendary masters or rum. We are truly experiencing an era that can only be described as the Renaissance Of Rum.”

Savvy consumers come to the Rum Renaissance Festival to discover a truly remarkable range of fine rums from the Caribbean region, as well as Central and South America, Europe, Asia — and from the furthest reaches of the world. The best American rums, as well, are on display, with a chance to speak directly with the master distillers and blenders.

Miami Rum Renaissance Festival has always been a place where rum reputations are made, new products are released and the love of old favorites is rekindled.

Miami Rum Festival – 14th Anniversary Celebration tickets are available for $49 online. VIP tickets which include early entry at 12:30pm are $59. Couples can purchase discounted VIP tickets in pairs for $99. After November 1, and at the door, prices are slightly higher.

Special rates for attendees are available at area hotels, as well as free transportation to and from the tasting events.

Miami Rum Renaissance Seminars are presented at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Coral Gables on Saturday, November 11. The Rum Renaissance Grand Tasting event takes place at the Coral Gables Woman’s Club at 1001 East Ponce de Leon Boulevard, Coral Gables, FL 33134 on Sunday, November 12, 2023.

For more information about the Miami Rum Festival – 14th Anniversary Celebration, call 707-278-6736 or visit the web site: rumrenaissance.com/

Photo: Loren Moss

The seminars will be held at the Hyatt Regency Coral Gables Venetian Ballroom, 50 Alhambra Plaza, Coral Gables, FL. 33134. Tickets must be purchased in advance, by clicking here or by calling 305-350-0764.

In addition to copious opportunities to taste, discern and discover the best rums, attendees of the world’s most interesting rum festival are invited to sign up for informative, entertaining, and illuminating rum seminars and expert classes taught by some of the leading experts in the world.

Featured presenters:

• Alexandre Gabriel, Maison Ferrand Owner and Master Blender
• Don Benn, West Indies Rum Master Distiller
• Gabrielle Hinds, West Indies Rum Distillery Quality Control

Cane to Glass

A complete journey through the rum production process

Part 1: Cane Culture and Fermentation

12:30pm to 1:15pm

We begin with a in-depth look at the seminal West Indies Central Sugar Cane Breeding Station, one of the two oldest (Java being the other one) sugar cane breeding institutions in the world, with a continuous breeding program since the rediscovery of seedlings in Barbados in 1888.

Tickets for the academic sessions must be purchased in advance by clicking here.

The key to developing desirable flavor profiles in rum production begins in the fermentation process — from light bodied rums to richly complex and flavorful distillates, we explore the theories, techniques and methods of fermentation developed and refined in the Caribbean region over the centuries.

Part 2: Distillation Using Traditional and Modern Methods

2pm to 2:45pm

The range of styles and marques created using various distillation methods and equipment varies greatly. From traditional alembic style copper pots to hybrid specialty stills and modern, efficient column still equipment, the contemporary production facility assimilates a myriad of varied processes and methods to create unique marques — enabling a vast variety of rum distillates to be produced.

Part 3: Wood Management and Blending

3:30pm to 4:15pm

The process of maturing spirits in wooden barrels has a long and storied history, based on the craft of cooperage and the management of the aging process. Producing carefully curated and elevated spirits is an artful endeavor that requires intimate knowledge and experience of the materials, the interactions, and the chemistry of wood management.

Likewise, the blending of various marques, developed to deliver specific styles and properties, are merged to create complexity, intensity, balance and depth of flavor. The art of blending requires specific talents and organoleptic skills that can take decades to master. When targeting specific flavor profiles and product specifications, the master blender must intrinsically understand the unique qualities of each marque and the values of each component to create a masterful blend.

At the end of each seminar presentation segment, an interactive question and answer session will follow. Rum tastings are included in the seminars. Light snacks will be served at the end of the third session.

Once again, hundreds of rum connoisseurs, collectors, judges and enthusiastic rum lovers will mingle with producers, master distillers, importers, distributors, retailers and members of the spirits trade at the Coral Gables Woman’s Club from 2 to 6pm.

Attendees will enjoy the vast number of rums on exhibit by award-winning producers, and frequent the specialty rum tasting bar — with more than a hundred limited edition, vintage and prestigious luxury edition expressions for discriminating palates.

“It’s such a pleasure to host so many great rum producers and to welcome back more than a thousand rum fans in South Florida,” said festival producer Robert Burr. “The category of rum continues to expand with an ever-growing variety of offerings, from everyday favorites and classics to the most amazing examples offered by the legendary masters or rum. We are truly experiencing an era that can only be described as the Renaissance of Rum.”

As always, a great selection of top-shelf rums will be on sale at the event from Jensen’s Liquors, a leading source of great spirits in South Florida.

Savvy consumers come to the Rum Renaissance Festival to discover a truly remarkable range of fine rums from the Caribbean region, as well as Central and South America, Europe, Asia — and from the furthest reaches of the world. The best American rums, as well, are on display, with a chance to speak directly with the master distillers and blenders.

Miami Rum Renaissance Festival has always been a place where rum reputations are made, new products are released, and the love of old favorites is rekindled.

Miami Rum Fest tickets are available for $39 online. VIP tickets which include early entry at 12:30pm are $49. Couples can purchase discounted VIP tickets in pairs for $89. After November 1, and at the door, prices are slightly higher.

Special rates for attendees are available at area hotels, as well as free transportation to and from the tasting events.

The Miami Rum Renaissance Festival takes place at the Coral Gables Woman’s Club at 1001 East Ponce de Leon Boulevard, Coral Gables, FL 33134 on Sunday, November 13, 2022.

For more information call 707-278-6736 or visit the web site: rumrenaissance.com/

Some of the specialty rums from private collections available for tasting, for  a donation, at the private collection bar include:

• Abuelo Centuria – Panama
• Abuelo XII Two Woods – Panama
• Abuelo XV Napoleon Cognac Cask Finish – Panama
• Abuelo XV Oloroso Sherry Cask Finish – Panama
• Abuelo XV Tawny Port Cask Finish – Panama
• Admiral Rodney HMS Formidable – St. Lucia
• Admiral Rodney HMS Princessa – St. Lucia
• Admiral Rodney HMS Royal Oak – St. Lucia
• Amrut Old Port – India
• Angostura Single Barrel – Trinidad
• Antelope Island Red Rum – Utah
• Appleton 21 – Jamaica
• Appleton Master Blender Reserve
• Arôme 28 – Panama
• Bacardi Gran Reserva Diez 10 – Puerto Rico
• Bacardi Reserva Limitada
• Barbancourt 15 – Haiti
• Barcelo Imperial – Dominican Republic
• Barrilito Three Star – Puerto Rico
• Bayou Select – Louisiana
• Bounty Sorrel – St. Lucia
• Botran 1893 Solera – Guatemala
• Bristol – Rockley Still ’86 – Barbados
• Bristol Providence Estate 1990 – Trinidad
• Bristol – Port Mourant 1980 – Guyana
• Bristol – Port Mourant 1999 – Guyana
• Brugal 1888 – Dominican Republic
• Bumbu XO – Panama
• Carupano Solera Centenaria – Venezuela
• Cartavio XO – Peru
• Casa Magdalena Ron Blanco – Guatemala
• Chairman’s Reserve Forgotten Cask – St. Lucia
• Chairman’s Reserve 1979 Independence – St. Lucia
• Chairman’s Reserve 2005 Vintage – St. Lucia
• Chairman’s Reserve 1931 – St. Lucia
• Charbay Barrel Strength 68.5 – California
• Clairin Le Rocher – Haiti
• Clement Cuvee Homere – Martinique
• Clifton Estate Spice Rum – Nevis
• Cockspur VSOR – Barbados
• Compagnie de Indes – Fiji Vintage 2004
• Compagnie de Indes – Port Mourant Guyana 2005
• Diplomatico Vintage 2002 Sherry Finish – Venezuela
• Doctor Bird Traditional Pot Still – Jamaica
• Don Pancho Origenes 30 – Panama
• Don Q Vermouth Cask Finish – Puerto Rico
• Don Q 2007 Single Barrel – Puerto Rico
• Don Q 20097 Single Barrel – Puerto Rico
• Doorly’s 12 – Barbados
• Doorly’s XO – Barbados
• Dos Maderas Luxus – Spain
• Dzama Cuvee Noire – Madagascar
• El Dorado 15 – Guyana
• El Dorado 21 – Guyana
• English Harbour Port Cask
• Facundo Exquisito – Puerto Rico
• Flor de Caña 25 – Nicaragua
• Foursquare 1998 Vintage – Barbados
• Foursquare Premise – Barbados
• Foursquare Probitas – Barbados and Jamaica
• Foursquare Zinfandel Cask Finish – Barbados
• Foursquare Port Cask Finish – Barbados
• Gunroom – Gunpowder Proof – Guyana Barbados Trinidad Jamaica
• Hamilton Demerara 86 – Guyana
• Hamilton Jamaica Pot Still Gold
• Hamilton St. Lucia Pot Still 7
• Hampden Estate 60% Overproof – Jamaica
• Holey Dollar Cask Strength – Australia
• Inner Circle Blue Dot 90 Proof – Australia
• La Mauny Rhum View Agricole – Martinique
• Lemon Hart 151 – Vintage – Guyana
• Matusalem 15 – Dominican Republic
• Matusalem 18 – Dominican Republic
• Matusalem 23 – Dominican Republic
• McDowell’s Number 1 Celebration – India
• Mount Gay XO Limited Edition Independence – Barbados
• Mount Gay 1703 Master Select – Barbados
• Mount Gilboa Triple Distilled Pot – Barbados
• Nine Leaves Almost Spring – Japan
• Nine Leaves Angel’s Half – Japan
• Pampero Aniversario – Venezuela
• Penny Blue XO Batch 002 – Mauritius
• Plantation Fiji 2009
• Plantation Guatemala Gran Añejo
• Plantation Jamaica 2005 Long Pond/Clarendon
• Plantation 2001 Nicaragua
• Prichard’s Private Stock – Tennessee
• Queen Charlotte’s Reserve – North Carolina
• Real McCoy 12 – Barbados
• Rhum JM Cuvée 1845 – Martinique
• Rhum JM Vintage 1997 – Martinique
• Richland Georgia Estate
• Richland Georgia Estate – Terrapin Double IPA
• Ron Centenario 18 – Costa Rica
• Rum Nation Reunion Island 7
• Rum Nation Caroni 1998 – Trinidad
• Saint James Cuvée 1765 – Martinique
• Saint James Rhum Vieux Agricole – Martinique
• Santa Teresa 1796 – Venezuela
• Skotlander V – At Sea – Denmark
• Skotlander IV – Licorice – Denmark
• Star African White – Mauritius
• Urupan Charanga Banco – Mexico
• Velier 1998 Caroni 15 – Trinidad
• Velier Forsyths WP 502 – Jamaica
• Vizcaya VSOP – Dominican Republic
• XM Royal Extra Mature – Guyana
• Zabana Single Barrel Reserve – Philippines
• Zacapa XO – Guatemala
• Zafra 21 – Panama
• Zafra 30 – Panama
• Zaya 12 – Trinidad