Havana Club rum: an alcohol guide
About the Havana Club brand
One of the world's best-selling brands of white rum is of Cuban origin. The famous drink has been produced in one of the largest cities in the country - Cardenas - since 1934.
Havana Club products can be bought in more than a hundred countries, the annual consumption of the drink is estimated at millions of bottles. In addition to Cuban rum, the famous brand produces a lesser-known "Puerto Rican version" with a corresponding label.
History of Havana Club rum
The first alcohol from sugar cane, brought to Cuba by Christopher Columbus, was produced in the XVII century.
Initially, the drinks were very strong and tart: only pirates and the local poor could drink them.
In the second half of the XIX century, new technologies began to spread in the country, thanks to which rum acquired lightness and refreshing taste.
Around the same time, the Arechabal family founded their own distillery on the Cardenas coast.
The production of alcohol at a small enterprise began in 1878, but the date of creation of the Havana Club brand is considered to be 1934, when rum under this name was sold in Cuba and the United States.
It is possible that the hard-working Arechabal family would have made a fortune from the production of the popular drink, but fate turned out differently.
When Fidel Castro came to power, the company was nationalized, and the creators of Havana Club had to emigrate. The rum production plant has been actively developing and has become a local treasure.
In the 70s, supplies to the USSR and Eastern Europe were established.
In the 90s, Pernod Ricard joined the management of the company, which acquired half of the shares from the Cuban government.
How Havana Club rum is made
The island of Cuba, with its hot tropical climate and fertile soil, is best suited for growing sugar cane, which is used to make light rum.
Unlike other spirits, this spirit does not have a single production technology.
However, to make Havana Club, local "Maestros Roneros" today use the same technologies that were used by the Arechabala family more than 100 years ago.
In general terms, the process looks like this:
During the production of sugar, high quality molasses is extracted from cane, which is a thick amber-colored paste. It is also known as molasses.
Yeast and pure spring water are added to the molasses, thereby starting the fermentation stage.
The wort is distilled and filtered. Purification is carried out slowly, due to natural gravity, which provides the drink with a natural taste and aroma.
The distillate is aged in carefully selected white oak barrels for about two years. Interestingly, due to the tropical climate, the maturation of alcohol in Cuba is faster than in Europe. Annual product losses ("angel's share") are up to 10%. For comparison: in France, this figure is only 2%.
After two years of aging, the drink is blended by combining spirits from different barrels. Part of the production is bottled immediately, resulting in young, clear rum. The rest of the alcohol matures further: up to 3, 5, 7 or more years.
Types of Havana Club rum
The main line includes 3 types of drinks:
3 Años
A favorite rum of bartenders, combining freshness and hot Cuban character.
Color: light straw color. Aroma: smooth, with hints of oak, molasses and sugar cane.
Taste: balanced, complex, with a spicy trail of citrus fruits and soft sweetness of fruit.
The perfect base for Mojitos.
Especial
Premium golden rum with a smooth texture, double aged.
Light sweetness and vanilla notes are combined with notes of cinnamon, tobacco, orange peel and dry oak.
The brightest flavor and depth of the drink is revealed in the Cuba Libre cocktail.
7 Años
An original dark rum that has been maturing in oak barrels for 7 years and has collected a wealth of Cuban flavors: tobacco, sweet tropical fruits, molasses, spices, vanilla.
The drink is characterized by a multilayered texture and a long aftertaste that slowly reveals itself.
The luxurious "Icónica Collection" is a special category
It consists of 4 exclusive expensive drinks, which are the pinnacle of the collective skill of Cuban blending specialists - "Maestros del Ron Cubano":
Añejo 15 Años
A rare rum with a bright copper hue and smooth texture, produced in a limited edition.
Only 58 barrels of the unique product are selected every year.
The aromas of dried fruits, prunes and raisins are intertwined with oak notes.
The taste harmoniously combines tones of sweet fruits, chocolate, coffee, tobacco and spices.
A long aftertaste pleases with accents of vanilla and cocoa.
Union Cohiba Atmosphere
Powerful and luxurious, impresses with a wealth of balanced aromas of oak and smoke, intertwined with subtle tones of citrus, coconut, dried fruit and coffee.
The taste of the drink is soft and woody, with accents of sweet vanilla and chocolate.
Máximo Extra Añejo
Amber shimmering amber is produced in a limited batch: only 1000 bottles are produced annually.
The aroma of the drink is dominated by hints of oak and smoke, complemented by subtle tones of fresh pear, coconut and dried fruit.
Taste: dry, sweetish, with a silky warm aftertaste of dark chocolate, candied fruit, spices and vanilla.
Tributo
A bright release of 2018, the rum has a deep amber hue, a rich balanced aroma of dried fruits, raisins, complemented by a delicate oak finish.
Taste: powerful, full-bodied, with a long coffee and coconut aftertaste.
Interesting facts about Havana Club rum
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The name for the drink was not chosen by chance
The name combines two Cuban symbols: the free spirit of the capital and the incendiary passion of nightclubs.
The girl Giraldia depicted on the logo, who is waiting for her lover to return with a stick in her hand, is a heroine of local legends and an emblem of Havana.
Construction of a plant in the immediate vicinity of the port
It turned out to be profitable for the Arechabal family in terms of exports, but brought a lot of losses due to the climate.
Repeatedly, hurricanes have completely destroyed coastal structures that had to be rebuilt.
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Fashion for cocktails with rum
At the beginning of the XX century, Cuban bartenders "cantineros" began to actively master the art of creating cocktails with the obligatory inclusion of rum.
The new fashion was brought to the island by American tourists, who rushed to Cuba in large numbers during the "dry law".
At the end of the XX century, the legendary brand became the subject of litigation
Between the current owners of the plant and the company "Bacardi".
A multinational company, having bought the original recipe of rum from the Arechabal family, began to produce a drink called "Havana Club" in Puerto Rico.
Trademark disputes continue to this day.
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The museum of rum
A small restored mansion on the waterfront of old Havana houses the Rum Museum, where you can learn about the technology of making the drink and the full line of Havana Club products.
There is even an exclusive rum of many years of aging, which costs several thousand dollars.
Update: 29.03.2019
Category: Rum