At the end of the 18th century, Severo Arango y Ferro arrived in Cartagena de Indias in Nueva Granada (modern-day Colombia). His strong and powerful nature was quickly recognized and he was soon nicknamed DICTADOR. Severo discovered rum and soon became a key trader in exotic sugar cane spirits. In 1913, almost 180 years later, one of his descendants created the Destilería Colombiana. Don Julio Arango y Para spent years researching the myths of DICTADOR, as well as the intricacies of rum production, to become the best producer of Colombian rum in the Caribbean. Today, third-generation rum producer and Master Blender, Hernan Para, continues the family's legacy and tradition.