Cuban rum: a brief overview of 12 brands + advice

Rum has a rich history and unique production technology. There are a large number of varieties and brands of rum that differ in composition and production method.

Cubanacan

Authentic Cuban rum of dark brown color, represented by aged blends from 5 to 12 years. You can buy it through online stores and in Cuba.

Guayabita del Pinar

There are two types of unique rum - dry and sweet. The sweet Guayabita del Pinar has a low strength of 30 degrees, and the dry version has the standard 40% alcohol.

Sweet rum also has an unusual and pleasant taste, which is achieved thanks to the dried Guayabita fruit.

Guayabita (psidium salutare) is a small tree from the myrtle family. Fruits are spherical, up to 1.5 cm in diameter, weighing from 0.9 to 1.8 g, green in color, edible after ripening.

Guayabita del Pinar is drunk both neat and in cocktails. In addition to the exotic berry, vanilla, sugar, caramel, roots and herbs are used in the production of this drink.

Rum is aged in cedar barrels for at least thirty days.

Havana Club

This rum is the pride of "Liberty Island". It was named after the capital of Cuba. The main distinguishing feature is a wide range of alcoholic beverages. The company offers eight varieties of rum, so everyone can choose a drink to their liking. The strength varies between 40-45%.

The capital of Cuba has a thematic museum dedicated to Havana Club rum. Here you will learn about the technology of producing strong alcoholic beverages from sugar cane, conduct fascinating excursions and organize a drink tasting.

Cuban rum is a legendary drink. It can be drunk separately, with the help of such alcohol delicious dishes and unforgettable cocktails are prepared. Mixing rum with different ingredients will create unusual flavors, and the aftertaste will leave only positive impressions.

Legendario

This rum stands out among other brands. It is characterized by mild and balanced flavors. The drink is suitable for true connoisseurs of alcohol and the fair sex.

The line created by this manufacturer is presented in the form of several varieties of the drink. The manufacturer offers to purchase white, golden and black varieties of rum made from cane. Especially popular is the drink called Legendario Elixir de Cuba.

The rum created by this company is very unusual. It has a low strength, which is within 34 degrees. The taste of the drink is unique.

It is recommended to drink this alcohol after you dilute it with water. It is worth noting that the legendary aftertaste is practically not felt when creating cocktails.

Matusalem

A solid rum with a long history dating back to 1870.

The word Matusalem is taken from a proverb: "Esto es mas viejo que Matusalem", which means "Older than Methuselah" - the name of the biblical apostle who lived for 969 years. The name was chosen specifically to focus the buyer's attention on the long-term aging that is necessary for rum to achieve the most unique organoleptic properties.

The essence of the process is to mix young and old spirits. To do this, a pyramid of barrels is used, with the youngest spirits in the upper tier and the oldest in the lower tier.

Rum is always bottled from the bottom barrels. The method involves cascading portions of alcohol from the upper barrels to the lower ones at set intervals, for example, a year or two. As a result, a mixture of alcohols is formed in the lowest row of barrels, the age of which can only be established approximately.

Ron Caney

A lovingly crafted rum of the highest quality dating back to 1862. The drink has absorbed the spirit and best traditions of Cuban masters. The rum is deservedly considered one of the best both in Cuba and throughout Latin America.

The combination of affordable price and amazing taste puts Caney beyond any competition, so this rum is in high demand among bartenders and is used in various cocktails.

The drink is produced according to the classical scheme from sugar cane, which is grown on the most fertile soils of the tropical south of Cuba, located around the picturesque mountains called Sierra Maestre, which are an important part of the island's history.

The distillation is carried out in the city of Santiago de Cuba, which is considered to be the true soul of the island's musical and cultural heritage, and also the cradle for the first rums of Cuba, the place of origin of the signature Cuban style of the drink.

Caney's range includes both white and dark rum. Aged Caney is best drunk neat, without ice. But light rum can be consumed in such famous combinations as rum and cola, rum and whiskey, rum and Pepsi, with tea, etc.д.

Ron Cubay

A real Cuban folk drink, which is drunk by the people of Cuba themselves. This is the most authentic rum, the same one that Hemingway, a regular at Cuban bars, loved so much.

The drink is produced in the small town of Santa Domingo, but it is sold all over the world.

The Cuban version of Cubay has a pronounced sweetish flavor that cannot be confused with any other strong alcohol. There is no need to snack on rum, it is self-sufficient and pleasant on the palate.

There are three types of Cubay rum:

1. Cubay Anejo

   The most common rum. The color is a bit cloudy, and the aroma and taste are characterized by smoky and oaky hints.

2. Cubay Black

   Classic rum, blacker than a pirate's flag, and harsher than a seasoned bosun's temper.

3. Cubay White

   Due to repeated purification with charcoal, the rum has an exceptionally clear color. The aroma and aftertaste have pronounced oak hints.

Ron Edmundo Dantes

Exclusive rum with a limited edition of 3000 bottles per year. Minimum 15 years of aging.

The alcohol is balanced and mild with notes of vanilla, nuts, coffee and tobacco. The final is very long. Strength: 40% vol.

The rum is also related to the Montecristo cigar collection, so you can find their logo on the bottle.

Ron Mulata

One of the most popular and best-selling rums in Cuba, produced at the Heriberto Duquesne plant, which is more than 50 years old.

The rum is aged in white American oak barrels, which give the drink a unique flavorful texture.

Although Ron Mulata dominates most of the local Cuban market, it is now becoming increasingly popular in Europe as well.

Types of Ron Mulata rum:

1. Ron Mulata Añejo 7 Year Old

2. Ron Mulata Añejo 5 Years

3. Ron Mulata Blanco Reserva 3 Year Old

4. Ron Mulata 15 Year Old Gran Reserva Añejo

5. Ron Mulata Añejo Blanco

The strength of all drinks is 38% abv.

Ron Varadero

With the support of the Spanish crown, the Varadero rum distillery was founded in 1862 to produce the first aged traditional rum.

The rum is currently distilled, aged and bottled in Santiago de Cuba, the birthplace of rum.

Varadero is the second largest Cuban rum company, which has recently entered the European market.

Types of Varadero rum:

1. Palma Superior

   Rum of a beautiful amber color, aged in oak barrels, which were previously used for sherry.

   This aging process gives the taste and aroma of the rum more brightness and various shades.

   The bouquet is very complex, with notes of vanilla, tobacco and spices. The taste is powerful, refreshing, with an unexpected coffee aftertaste.

2. Carta Oro

   It has an elegant color of old gold, which indicates aging much longer than usual.

   The aroma is delicate, but at the same time multilayered, containing notes of ginger, coconut, honey, marzipan and spices.

   The nose is complex, rounded, with tangible tones of exotic fruits and citrus. The aftertaste is long, but very light and pleasant.

3. Silver

   Bright, young rum can be a great base for cocktails, including the legendary Cuba Libre.

   A year and a half of aging in oak barrels makes this rum unusual. Crystal clear, extremely transparent color is achieved by carbon filtration.

   Interestingly, the aromatic component presented by the oak barrel is fully preserved.

   The bouquet has clearly perceptible notes of coconut with a hint of oak wood. The taste is well balanced, slightly sweet.

4. Blanco

   The delicate, pale yellow color of the rum indicates three years of aging in white oak barrels.

   It has an intriguing, attractive aroma with subtle notes of mint.

   The taste of the drink is dry, slightly tingling on the tongue. The aftertaste is clean and long with notes of coffee.

5. Anejo 7 Years Old

   A refined sweetish rum of dark amber color, which appears after aging in oak barrels for seven years.

   The aroma is perfectly balanced, there are spicy notes of spicy and soft fruits, which are combined with notes of mowed grass and chocolate.

   The taste of the rum is delicate, soft with an unusual elegant aftertaste. This rum can be called the best digestif in the Varadero collection of rums.

6. Supremo Anejo

   A real aristocrat in the Varadero rum line. The aging period is impressive - 18 years in oak barrels!

   The rum has a rich dark chestnut color with amber reflections on the edges of the bottle. The bouquet will remind you of the aroma of old aged brandy, which reveals notes of oriental spices, tobacco, tea rose and ginger.

   The taste is extremely complex, balanced and viscous. The tones of coffee beans emphasize the richness of flavors that this Cuban rum has acquired through long aging. The aftertaste is long, exceptionally weighty.

The strength of all drinks is 38% abv.

Santero Ron

Cuban rum produced by one of the oldest companies Tecnoazúcar. The plant has half a century of experience in manufacturing alcoholic beverages, so it is not surprising that rum from this company has the highest quality and unsurpassed taste.

There are many guesses and legends about the name of Cuban rum Santero. For example, one of them says: a long time ago, among the descendants of African slaves deported to Cuba, a strange religious cult called "Santeria" was widespread. So, the followers of this direction were called "Santero". Their mysterious rituals, dances and songs have become an integral part of Cuban culture over time.

All Santero rum production processes are carried out manually and only according to ancient traditions and recipes. Here, alcohols are still produced by distillation in ancient copper alambics. It is no coincidence that the distillers are made of copper - it is known that this material allows for continuous and uniform distillation, which has a positive effect on the quality of the final alcohols. They become milder and richer, and their wonderful aftertaste can please even the most demanding expert.

The basis of Cuban Santero rum is exclusively the lower part of the selected sugar cane, where the largest amount of sugar is accumulated during the growth of this crop. In the process of fermenting cane syrup, yeast is never added to the liquid, which some unscrupulous companies often use to speed up the process. In this case, the quantity of products produced increases several times, but the quality drops significantly.

Cuban rum Santero is aged exclusively in new barrels made by local craftsmen according to old drawings - without gluing and nails. After all, nails and other substances can give the drink an undesirable flavor or even spoil a good Cuban rum.

Characteristics of Santero rum

1. The color of the drink is bright golden with yellow reflections on the edges of the glass bottle.

2. Santero rum tastes a little rough, but thanks to its excellent balance, it is not so noticeable. It has light notes of sugar syrup, oak chips and coffee beans.

3. The aftertaste is very pleasant and very long.

You can drink Cuban Santero rum both in its pure form and as a base for cocktails.

This Cuban rum is best served slightly chilled or with two pieces of crushed ice.

Santiago de Cuba

This rum is a true classic of the "Island of Freedom". The unofficial motto of the factory that produces the drink is "adherence to tradition".

Cuban rum Santiago de Cuba has a fairly long aging. This applies to all products offered to consumers by the manufacturer. For example, light rum must be aged for three years. It is worth noting that other manufacturers insist on this drink for no more than a year.

Cane alcohol will appeal to even the most demanding connoisseurs. The strength varies between 38-40%. Having tried rum, you will appreciate all the positive qualities.

Tip from Zbovtay

What kind of rum to buy as a gift and for yourself in Cuba? It's simple - you have to decide for yourself based on the information provided above (cap 🙃).

Concentrate on the parameters:

1. Aging period

2. Only dark rum

3. Softness or, on the contrary, harshness of taste

4. Price

It is advisable to buy rum only after tasting, if this option is available.

You should go to the production only if you are absolutely sure that you will take rum of this brand, otherwise your time will be wasted.

It's best to find a local bar (not a tourist bar) and try different brands from the Shaken list there.

Update: 30.12.2019

Category: Rum