Santa Maria is a Japanese rum producer that creates both dark and white rum expressions. While rum production in Japan remains relatively niche compared to the country's more established whisky and sake industries, Japanese distillers have been increasingly exploring rum-making using both domestic and imported molasses.

Japan's approach to rum production often reflects the country's meticulous attention to detail and craftsmanship that characterizes its other distilled spirits. Japanese rum producers typically focus on clean fermentation processes and precise distillation techniques, often incorporating elements learned from the nation's whisky-making expertise. The climate variations across Japan's islands can provide interesting maturation conditions for aged rum expressions.

Santa Maria's current range includes both Crystal and Gold expressions, representing the classic white and aged rum categories. The Crystal likely represents their unaged or lightly filtered white rum, while the Gold suggests a rum with some aging or color development, typical of the golden rum style.