Diego Quintero
In this interview, Diego Quintero, sales director for Dictador rum, tells of a luxury collaboration with Lalique and some other things in store for the brand.
What do you do, and how did you get into the industry?
I joined the industry in 2008. I started as a BM of wines. Since then, I have managed more than 50 brands. After that, I was GM for two importers in Latin America. I started working with Dictador in mid-2018, looking after Latin American markets and the US west coast. At the beginning of 2019, I moved to Sydney to manage Asian, African and Middle East markets.
What’s the latest news about your brand?
We just released one of the most unique and expensive bottles in the whole history of rum – Dictador in Lalique. We are taking the rum category to a new level, where rum is considered a highly appreciated asset for collectors and investors.
Share with us an interesting story from behind the scenes
We are part of a legendary collaboration that is a first in the world of aged rum. We are proud that our Colombian liquid treasure, Dictador Rum, is now held in crystal art pieces designed and produced by Lalique. Lalique only cooperates with very select partners. We are honoured to be picked as the first and only partner in the rum category.
What’s a culinary memory from your childhood or travels that stands out?
My childhood was amazing. Colombian cuisine is full of flavours and exotic fruits. Whenever you are travelling by road, there is always a place where you can stop and enjoy a wide variety of fresh fruits or tasty mouth-watering typical dishes.
What’s the best/ worst part of your job?
The best part is meeting people from different cultures. As I am working with a brand from my homeland, it is excellent to show Colombia’s nice side. The worst part would be carrying heavy boxes full of Dictador bottles and getting them through customs. But in the end, you get some muscles, so it’s not so bad.
What’s one of your favourite food and beverage pairings?
My perfect four-course pairing dinner would be:
Dictador XO Insolent paired with foie gras – I love those contrasting flavours battling in my mouth.
Dictador 12yo paired with ceviche – fresh flavours, raw fish, some spiciness perfectly paired with D12 complexity of lingering flavours.
Dictador 20yo paired with slowly cooked BBQ ribs – the sweetness of BBQ sauce melting with dark chocolate notes from D20.
Dictador XO Perpetual paired with crème brule. Try it! And if possible, compare it with XO Insolent pairing.
A nice Colombian coffee would be great to close the dinner.
What’s one of the wildest things you’ve seen behind the scenes?
Sometimes it’s kind of scary when you are working in a huge spirits event, and people are almost fighting, wrestling to get a sip of your product.
The perfect day off would be…
Visiting one of the 10 000 beaches in Australia, sipping some Dictador rum, playing with my baby girl and wife.
What does Diego Quintero do for fun?
I like cooking, especially BBQs. Exercise is always fun, doing some CrossFit, riding a bike, or swimming. Praying during the day helps me to have a clear mind and stay focused on what is really important in life.
A day in the life of a sales director is…
Emails, calls, meetings would be the boring part of the day. Tastings and meeting with customers are the fun part.
What’s something you’d like people to know about being a sales director for Dictador as a profession?
Working in this industry is amazing, almost a dream. Most of your friends work in banks, insurance, or software companies, not as fun as alcohol. It is great to work with a product that you can share with your loved ones and still have fun while doing it. However, we do have a responsible role to play, always taking care of your guests, making them have a nice time, enjoying a buzz in a good way and educating them how to do it properly. As industry ambassadors, we always need to promote responsible consumption.
What’s something you’d like guests to know about Dictador?
After working with a handful of brands, it is amazing to be part of what I consider is starting to be a cult brand, as Pappy Van Winkle Yamazaki or Macallan. Dictador is standing out from any other rum brand, creating the most shocking and collectable brand, soon our bottles will double/triple their prices due to our uniqueness and low stock availability. It’s a massive investment chance and time.
How has the pandemic changed you as a person?
It has made me feel even more blessed and grateful to God since I could arrive in Australia just before COVID started, settled down and keep my great job. Around the world, people are struggling and dying. That is a direct invitation to be more charitable and to learn to share what we have or know.
How has the pandemic changed you as a professional?
The COVID era is quite challenging. It has been an opportunity to learn from the unexpected. I guess we all had to become more resilient. But more importantly, as a professional, I would say that COVID has given us the time to do an internal SWOT analysis. You can start to craft a strategy that distinguishes you from others and compete successfully in your market.
What’s in store for you in the upcoming months?
There is a lot on my plate right now. First Dictador Lalique decanters are coming to our region. There is a lot of excitement from the luxury markets. We just opened our Tmall Global flagship store (Chinese Amazon version), making us accessible to 1.4 billion Chinese people. We are launching two new full series of affordable collectables. We are adding some Asian partners to our Dictador 2 Masters collection. Lastly, we are starting our African conquest, a continent with huge potential.
Find more interviews similar to this one with Diego Quintero here. And, stay up to date with the latest food and beverage happenings in KL here.
Wowww!!! Barrels of the coveted stuff with a certificate to show!
I watched a programme about Guatemala last week.
I didn’t know they make good rum there!