RON MATUSALEM
Our History
This is the story of a family, which is also the history of a company. For us, Ron Matusalem is much more than a brand. It is the DNA that runs in our blood and in our destiny.
1872-1920
The Swallow takes flight
Pablo Nonell was a Spanish immigrant born in 1834 in Lloret de Mar. In Santiago de Cuba, he ventured into the distilling of spirits. By 1872, he already owned his first distillery, where he introduced the Solera System, originally used to age sherry wines and brandy, making him one of the pioneers of using this technique in Cuba for the rum industry. It was in 1888 that he registered what would become, and remains to this day, the brand’s logo: The Swallow. That same year, the business was passed to his nephews, Enrique and Benjamin Camp, who established E. Camp & Co.
In 1912, Eduardo Camp, one of the nephews, married Justina Álvarez Lefebre. The union of these two families would prove pivotal to the company’s future; years later, the Álvarez family would take over the management of Ron Matusalem.
That same year, Enrique Camp died, and his brother, Benjamin, returned to Catalonia, marking a turning point for the company.
1920-1950
The Golden Age
In 1925 Evaristo Álvarez Prieto and his son Claudio Álvarez Lefebre took up the company’s reins alongside the Camp family, and Álvarez Camp & Co. was formed.
From 1925 to 1935, Ron Matusalem experienced many highs thanks to the tourism boom in Cuba spurred by the specific circumstances of Prohibition. Hollywood stars were frequent visitors.
In 1942, the company’s generational leadership fell to Claudio Álvarez Lefebre’s son, Claudio Álvarez Soriano, who modernized and expanded the brand. That year, the first Ron Matusalem cocktail menu was published. Cuba was in its golden age, and Ron Matusalem’s fame transcended borders.
1950 - 1990
The cocktail years and exodus
Big changes were coming for the island of Cuba and for the company. Between 1951 and 1956, the most important men at the company passed away: Eduardo Camp, Claudio Álvarez Lefebre and his son, Claudio Álvarez Soriano. Due to the situation in the island; his widow, Carmen Delfina Salazar Sánchez, left with her four children and moved to Miami.
The families behind Ron Matusalem tried to regroup the business. There were several attempts to revive the company in the United States. The family was divided, and so, too, was the business.
1990-2023
The company spreads its wings once more, the rebirth of Ron Matusalem
After several legal disputes between the brand’s heirs, Claudio Álvarez Salazar, the son of Álvarez Soriano and Carmen Salazar, took up the baton to revive Ron Matusalem in the 90´s, motivated by a familial commitment passed down through the generations. With great effort and determination, he managed to do so with the various facets of the company and decided to install the facilities in the Dominican Republic.
In 2016, production for Ron Matusalem was firmly established in the Dominican Republic. Following in his family’s footsteps, Claudio Álvarez Renaud, the son of Álvarez Salazar, has been tasked with upholding a 150-year-old family legacy that has crossed borders and spanned generations. Nowadays Ron Matusalem is in more than 70 countries with super premium rums that celebrate the Art of Timeless good taste. A motto that encompasses the brand’s iconic Gran Reserva 15, the original. A super-premium rum that has won numerous awards throughout its history. In 2010, the company launched Gran Reserva 23 to great success. In 2021 Insolito, the first rose rum was born as the first one in his category. And finally in 2022 the company presents Matusalem Sublime, a super limited edition with only 450 bottles in the world.
RON MATUSALEM
Our History
This is the story of a family, which is also the history of a company. For us, Ron Matusalem is much more than a brand. It is the DNA that runs in our blood and in our destiny.
1872-1920
The swallow takes flight
Pablo Nonell was a Spanish immigrant born in 1834 in Lloret de Mar. In Santiago de Cuba, he ventured into the distilling of spirits. By 1872, he already owned his first distillery, where he introduced the Solera System, originally used to age sherry wines and brandy, making him one of the pioneers of using this technique in Cuba for the rum industry. It was in 1888 that he registered what would become, and remains to this day, the brand’s logo: The Swallow. That same year, the business was passed to his nephews, Enrique and Benjamin Camp, who established E. Camp & Co.
In 1912, Eduardo Camp, one of the nephews, married Justina Álvarez Lefebre. The union of these two families would prove pivotal to the company’s future; years later, the Álvarez family would take over the management of Ron Matusalem.
That same year, Enrique Camp died, and his brother, Benjamin, returned to Catalonia, marking a turning point for the company.
1920-1950
The Golden Age
In 1925 Evaristo Álvarez Prieto and his son Claudio Álvarez Lefebre took up the company’s reins alongside the Camp family, and Álvarez Camp & Co. was formed.
From 1925 to 1935, Ron Matusalem experienced many highs thanks to the tourism boom in Cuba spurred by the specific circumstances of Prohibition. Hollywood stars were frequent visitors.
In 1942, the company’s generational leadership fell to Claudio Álvarez Lefebre’s son, Claudio Álvarez Soriano, who modernized and expanded the brand. That year, the first Ron Matusalem cocktail menu was published. Cuba was in its golden age, and Ron Matusalem’s fame transcended borders.
1950 - 1990
The cocktail years and exodus
Big changes were coming for the island of Cuba and for the company. In 1952, Batista seized control of Cuba in a military coup. Between 1951 and 1956, the most important men at the company passed away: Eduardo Camp, Claudio Álvarez Lefebre and his son, Claudio Álvarez Soriano. His widow, Carmen Delfina Salazar Sánchez, left Cuba with her four children after the triumph of Fidel Castro’s Cuban revolution in 1959. From 1960 to 1961, the nationalisation of private enterprises forced the different familial branches of Matusalem to self-exile to Miami.
The families behind Ron Matusalem tried to regroup in exile. There were several attempts to revive the company in the United States. The family was divided, and so, too, was the business.
1990-2023
The company spreads its wings once more, the rebirth of Ron Matusalem
After several legal disputes between the brand’s heirs, Claudio Álvarez Salazar, the son of Álvarez Soriano and Carmen Salazar, took up the baton to revive Ron Matusalem, motivated by a familial commitment passed down through the generations. With great effort and determination, he managed to do so with the various facets of the company.
In 2016, production for Ron Matusalem was firmly established in the Dominican Republic. Following in his family’s footsteps, Claudio Álvarez Renaud, the son of Álvarez Salazar, has been tasked with upholding a 150-year-old family legacy that has crossed borders and spanned generations, always remembering “Back to the origins, back to the basics”. A motto that encompasses the brand’s iconic Gran Reserva 15, the original. A super-premium rum that has won numerous awards throughout its history. And in 2010, the company launched Gran Reserva 23 to great success.
