The Truth In This Art: Stories That Matter Unveiling Pitoro: Crystal Rivera's Journey in Craft Rum and Preserving Puerto Rican Culture
Join us as we celebrate the artistry and brilliance of creative minds on 'The Truth in This Art' podcast with Rob Lee. In today's episode meet Crystal Rivera, the co-founder of Puerto Rico Distillery, a driving force behind the craft rum distillery situated in Frederick, Maryland. Proudly celebrating family, culture, and traditions, Puerto Rico Distillery specializes in artisanal Puerto Rican diaspora rum, affectionately known as Pitorro. Pitorro, a rum distilled from sugar cane molasses, has been a cherished beverage among Puerto Rican families and friends for generations but remained scarce outside of Puerto Rico. Crystal, along with her father Angel Rivera, embarked on this venture to share the essence of Puerto Rican heritage and its rich traditions with the world. The Rivera Team, hailing from a career Navy family, is renowned for being award-winning ambassadors of their culture in Maryland. Crystal's passion for her Puerto Rican roots and her courage to follow her dreams led her to leave the nonprofit sector and join her father in establishing the distillery in 2020.
On this edition:
- Delve into Puerto Rico Distillery's commitment to family culture and traditions, highlighted by their production of Pitoro, Puerto Rican moonshine.
- Explore the unique flavor profile of Pitoro, crafted using granulated sugar, molasses, and a specific yeast varietal, offering a distinct taste experience.
- Uncover the popularity and nostalgia of Pitoro's traditional flavor, featuring raisins, prunes, and cranberries, drawing in many satisfied customers.
- Learn about the challenges and significance of sourcing traditional ingredients like tamarind and kenepa, enhancing the authenticity of Puerto Rico Distillery's products.
- Discover Crystal's efforts in actively learning American Sign Language to foster better communication with the deaf and hard of hearing community in Frederick, strengthening community bonds.
Join us and learn from the best! Crystal shares her journey of starting a craft rum distillery in Frederick, Maryland. Growing up with Puerto Rican roots, Crystal and her family have a deep connection to the island's culture and traditions, including the tradition of Pitoro, Puerto Rican moonshine. After Hurricane Maria in 2018, Crystal and her father decided to pursue their dream of opening a distillery and honoring their heritage. Crystal discusses the process of making Pitoro, the different flavors they offer, and the importance of staying true to tradition while also experimenting with ingredients and techniques. She also highlights the response from the community and the challenges of sourcing traditional ingredients. Crystal's passion for her Puerto Rican roots and her commitment to preserving and sharing her culture shines through in her work at Puerto Rico Distillery.
Mentioned in this episode
Puerto Rico Distillery
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Host: Rob Lee
Music: Original music by Daniel Alexis Music with additional music from Chipzard and TeTresSeis.
Production:
- Produced by Rob Lee & Daniel Alexis
- Edited by Daniel Alexis
- Show Notes courtesy of Rob Lee and Transistor
Photos:
- Rob Lee photos by Vicente Martin for The Truth In This Art and Contrarian Aquarian Media.
- Guest photos courtesy of the guest, unless otherwise noted.
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