Ever since he was a young man, one of Guillermo Matos’ small pleasures has been a midmonth round of cocktails with friends.

His drink of choice was always imported whiskey. But with Venezuela’s economic crisis putting its price out of reach, the 45-year-old men’s tie store owner has had to change his ways, going local and switching to his country’s internationally lauded rum. He now sips a glass of Venezuelan Santa Teresa 1796, on the rocks.