APPARTEMENT 103 CHANNELS MAYAN MYTH INTO LIMITED EDITION CIHUATÁN VIENTO RUM

 Appartement 103 and Ron Cihuatán have launched Cihuatán Viento, a 10,000-bottle limited edition rum inspired by Ehécatl, the Mayan god of wind. A unique ageing process and richly symbolic packaging merge myth, terroir and design, offering collectors and rum lovers an expressive tribute to Salvadoran heritage.  

Appartement 103 has unveiled a new creative collaboration with Salvadorian rum-maker Ron Cihuatán, introducing Cihuatán Viento, a limited edition expression inspired by Mayan mythology and the divine force of the wind. The release, capped at 10,000 bottles, pays tribute to Ehécatl, the Mayan god of wind, whose breath once set the sun and moon into motion according to ancient legend. That myth becomes both the conceptual and visual anchor of the project, shaping the narrative, the rum-making process and ultimately, the collectible packaging.

To translate the story into flavor, Master Blender Gabriela Ayala selected a series of ex-bourbon casks, relocating them to a warehouse in El Salvador known for its distinctive microclimate. Over two years, a natural and continuous breeze moved through the space, interacting gently with the wood and guiding the spirits inside to develop in a slow, expressive manner. The brand describes the result as a refined rum tucked with subtle layers of character—an aromatic reflection of Salvadoran terroir and the intangible touch of the wind itself.

The myth that frames the release offers a cinematic backdrop: at the beginning of time, the twin brothers Nanahuatzin and Tecuciztecatl became the sun and the moon, yet remained motionless in the sky. To set them in eternal orbit, the gods summoned Ehécatl, whose powerful breath ignited the celestial dance that gave the world day and night. Cihuatán Viento positions itself as a sensory tribute to that moment of divine intervention, capturing both motion and magic within the bottle.

Visually, Appartement 103 brings the story into the present through a rich, symbolic design language. The bottle is wrapped in a palette that shifts from fiery oranges and magentas to deep blues, evoking the transition between sunrise and sunset. Gold hot-foil linework unfurls across the label, mimicking sweeping air currents and giving the packaging an animated sense of motion. Hidden illustrative cues—from the sun and moon to swirling Balsam tree leaves and rum barrels—reward closer inspection and reinforce the cosmology behind the product. The result is packaging that tells its own story on-shelf, inviting discovery and elevating the release beyond a traditional limited edition.