Locally owned and operated on North Padre Island, Vida Caña Rum is making a splash on the global spirits stage, securing top honors at the prestigious San Francisco World Spirits Competition. Organized by The Tasting Alliance, this annual event is the world’s oldest and largest of its kind, renowned for spotlighting standout wines, beers and spirits. Among over 5,500 entries this year—including 280 rums—Vida Caña’s distinctive Single Barrel Finishing Series emerged as a standout.
For Bryan Tierce, co-owner of Vida Caña, the recognition has been a validating milestone.
“It’s an honor to be recognized as the best-tasting overproof rum in the world,” said Bryan Tierce, co-owner of Vida Caña Rum. “We knew we had something special, but receiving these awards from such a respected competition is thrilling.”
The Single Barrel Finishing Series, proofed at 62%, took home the title of Best in Class: Overproof Rum, rising from finalist to the ultimate award winner in its category. On top of that, Vida Caña earned the coveted Double Gold medal—a distinction reserved for spirits unanimously scored as Gold by the entire judging panel. Achieving a remarkable 97 out of 100 for taste, the brand solidified its place among the world’s best.
“We entered hoping for recognition, but this goes beyond that,” Tierce shared. “Winning Double Gold—awarded only to spirits that all judges unanimously score as Gold—along with a 97 out of 100 for taste, and now Best in Class for overproof rum? This is a huge moment for us.”
Founded in 2019 by lifelong friends Tierce and Jonathan Fuller, the duo’s passion for exceptional rum inspired the release of the Single Barrel Finishing Series in 2022, which further elevated their brand.
But the spirit is only part of their story: for every bottle sold, $1 goes to local nonprofits focused on environmental conservation, education and wildlife rehabilitation. Since the company’s inception, Vida Caña has donated over $28,000 to these efforts, weaving social impact into its core mission.
Vida Caña’s current product lineup consists of four main offerings: USVI + American Craft (aged 2 years), Andean Blend (aged 8 years), Dominican Republic (aged 9 years) and Panama (aged 18 years). Alongside its main offerings, Vida Caña releases limited, special-edition bottles like the award-winning Single Barrel Finishing Series
For those eager to sample this award-winning rum, Vida Caña’s products are available online and at Texas retail stores such as Spec’s, Total Wine, WB Liquors, Spanky’s and Liquid Town.
