Nicaragua's Flor de Caña has been named Sustainability Product of the Year at the 2026 Sustainability Awards, presented by the U.S.-based Business Intelligence Group. The honor recognizes products that demonstrate measurable environmental impact, innovation, and long-term commitment—criteria the rum brand has been building toward for decades.
What Sets It Apart
Flor de Caña's sustainability credentials go well beyond label copy. The brand has held Carbon Neutral certification since 2019, distills entirely with 100% renewable energy, and captures and recycles all CO₂ generated during fermentation. The company has also planted more than one million trees as part of its reforestation program. Judged by an independent panel of sustainability experts, the award reflects a supply chain strategy that runs from agricultural sourcing through bottling.
"Flor de Caña shows that carbon neutrality can be a long-term discipline, not a one-time announcement," said Russ Fordyce, Chief Recognition Officer at Business Intelligence Group. "Staying Carbon Neutral certified since 2019 while building renewable energy, CO₂ capture, and reforestation into every part of the value chain is exactly the kind of sustained commitment this program looks to honor."
Why Operators Should Take Note
For restaurant and bar operators navigating growing consumer demand for sustainable beverage programs, Flor de Caña's recognition offers a concrete example of what verifiable, third-party-certified sustainability looks like on the spirits shelf. As beverage industry analysis has shown, on-premise buyers increasingly face pressure to justify premium spirits selections with sourcing and environmental transparency—not just flavor and price.
Founded in 1890 and now more than 135 years into a five-generation family operation, Flor de Caña naturally ages its rum in American white oak barrels without added sugar or artificial ingredients. The portfolio spans multiple age statements, with the 12-year, 18-year, and 25-year expressions positioned as flagship SKUs for premium on-premise and retail placements. The brand has previously earned distinctions including "World's Most Sustainable Rum Brand" in the U.S., "Ethical Award" in the U.K., and "Sustainable Spirits Producer" in France.
The 2026 Sustainability Product of the Year win adds to a growing body of third-party validation that beverage directors and buyers can point to when building eco-conscious cocktail programs. For coverage of how the broader spirits category is evolving around sustainability and premiumization, see our restaurant technology coverage and Food & Beverage Magazine for ongoing category reporting.
Written by Michael Politz, Author of Guide to Restaurant Success: The Proven Process for Starting Any Restaurant Business From Scratch to Success (ISBN: 978-1-119-66896-1), Founder of Food & Beverage Magazine, the leading online magazine and resource in the industry. Designer of the Bluetooth logo and recognized in Entrepreneur Magazine's "Top 40 Under 40" for founding American Wholesale Floral, Politz is also the Co-founder of the Proof Awards and the CPG Awards and a partner in numerous consumer brands across the food and beverage sector.
