At Butterfly @ W Nashville, cocktails, piraguas and island-inspired bites brought the spirit of Puerto Rico to Music City
ناشفيل، تينيسي. — In Nashville, where a good drink is often treated as a form of local currency, Sonrisa Rum offered a different kind of exchange this past weekend: a taste of Puerto Rico, served with a side of sunshine, spice and shaved ice.
The occasion was National Rum Day on Aug. 16, when Sonrisa took over Butterfly @ W Nashville for an open-to-the-public celebration built around the flavors and culture of the island. The evening unfolded through a custom cocktail menu, Latin-inspired الطعام pairings and a piragua cart—an experience designed to make the brand’s Puerto Rican roots feel less like a talking point than something guests could actually taste.
The cocktails carried the evening’s narrative. The Dessert in San Juan combined Sonrisa Reserva with curaçao, espresso, Licor 43, demerara, smoke and brûléed orange, bringing a dessert-like richness to the glass. The Miel y Melón, made with Sonrisa Platino, melon liqueur, citrus, lemongrass syrup and honeydew caviar, leaned brighter and more aromatic.
With Sonrisa Oro, Amaro Nonino, ginger, honey, basil, citrus and cinnamon, El Basilisco offered a more layered, herbaceous profile. The Bomba Float, meanwhile, brought together Sonrisa Platino and Oro with papaya syrup, orange juice, Coco López and peach-Aperol jam—a tropical, playful finish that treated the cocktail as much like a dessert as a drink.
Then came the piraguas. Sonrisa Platino-spiked shaved ice was served in two signature flavors: Mojito, with fresh mint and lime, and Puerto Rican Passion, pairing passionfruit with jalapeño. Guests could also choose non-alcoholic versions in blood orange, mango, coconut and watermelon, keeping the cart’s colorful appeal open to everyone.
Butterfly’s food menu extended the island-inspired mood beyond the bar. The Atún Pacífico paired ahi tuna and avocado with toasted pecans, crispy amaranth and a Maggi-lime dressing, served alongside fried plantain chips. Empanadas de frijoles y queso, flautas de carnitas and tembleque with seasonal fruit rounded out a menu that moved between savory comfort and tropical brightness.
What made the celebration resonate was the connection behind the pour. Sonrisa is crafted, distilled, and aged entirely in Puerto Rico, and the brand’s relationship with the island is central to its identity. Through its “From Puerto Rico, For Puerto Rico” initiative, Sonrisa donates $1 from every bottle sold to small businesses across the island—turning a night of cocktails into an expression of community support.
That sense of purpose also shapes the portfolio. Sonrisa’s three expressions—Platino, Oro Especial and Reserva—are positioned for both elevated cocktails and sipping, with zero sugar added, zero carbohydrates, no artificial additives and gluten-free ingredients. The result is a rum brand that presents premium drinking not as an exercise in excess, but as a way to stay connected to place.
At Butterfly, that place was Puerto Rico—translated into citrus, smoke, basil, coconut, passionfruit and spice, then poured into the Nashville night. For Sonrisa, National Rum Day became more than a calendar occasion. It became a reminder that the most memorable spirits carry a sense of where they come from.
About Sonrisa Puerto Rican Rum
Sonrisa is a premium Puerto Rican rum crafted, distilled and aged in Puerto Rico. Its portfolio includes Platino, Oro Especial and Reserva, created for elevated cocktails and sipping experiences. Through its “From Puerto Rico, For Puerto Rico” initiative, Sonrisa directs $1 from every bottle sold to support Puerto Rican small businesses. For more information, visit sonrisarum.com أو اتبع @sonrisarum على إنستغرام
Photos courtesy of Sonrisa Rum
