The light and elegant rums from Ecuador are inspired by the Cuban style, but the small quantities produced make it difficult to find. They are produced mainly from sugar cane molasses. Without a doubt, Ecuador's best-known rum is San Miguel rum. The first rum distillery in Ecuador was established in the Paute Valley, near Cuenca. Sugar cane has been cultivated there since the 16th century with excellent results, thanks to the wonderful climate of the valley and the fertility of the soil. Over the years, production techniques have improved, but the secret probably lies in the rum aging cellar, often located at high altitude, like Cimbrazo rum which comes from the highest mountain in Ecuador.