The largest portion of the world’s rum production comes from the Caribbean and Latin America. It was for many years closely associated with Cuba. Rum is distilled spirit made from sugarcane juice or sugarcane by-products, such as molasses. The juice is fermented, and then distilled. Rum is most made at approximately 80 Proof.
The rums made from the sugarcanes of Cuba helped make fine rum world famous. Many famous producers today originated in Cuba, such as Bacardi.
Like whisky and other potent potables, there is a market for the finer versions of this spirit. And it had its aficionados. Fine rum is an impressive drink. Firstly, they are made from molasses. Molasses makes the best, high quality rum. These rums are barrel aged and can be served in brandy snifters or whisky glasses. They are drunk neat or on the rocks. They give off impressive aromatics, filled with oak, stone fruits, raisin, honey, apricot, and honeysuckle, among others. They are not sweet, but rather, gorgeous elixirs.
For many years, there were varying traditions on what to sip while enjoying your cigar. Port? Brandy? Whisky?
Winston Churchill was famous for liking brandy and cigars. A frequent guest at Churchill’s home Chartwell once remarked, “He is an exceedingly kind and generous host, providing unlimited Champagne, cigars and brandy”.
Americans seemed to favour whisky and cigars. Men like Ulysses S. Grant and Mark Twain made this combination famous. Mark Twain once quipped, “Too much of anything is bad, but too much good whiskey is barely enough”.
But when in Cuba, savouring a fine Cuban cigar, the idea of sipping port, brandy or whisky is unthinkable. In Cuba you savour a fine, barrel-aged rum. One of the most popular terms you will notice as you start investigating Cuban rum is the term “ronañejo” which essentially means “old rum”. Here are some wonderful rums you should look for:
TWO SPECIAL RARE AGED CUBAN RUMS
Ron Edmundo Dantes 25-Year-Old Gran Reserva
Ron Edmundo Dantes is among the highest quality rum brands today. The name of the brand comes from the famous novel by Alexandre Dumas, The Count of Monte Cristo. This prestigious Cuban rum is made in Santiago de Cuba. They manufacture only 3,000 bottles annually. They produce two products: a 15-year-old and a 25-year-old rum. This 25-year-old rum is golden in colour and known for its smooth taste with strong hints of vanilla. The 25-Year-Old Gran Reserva bottle is decorated with 24 carat gold. The stylish package no doubt is reminiscent of the Montecristo cigar brand.
Havana club maximo extra anejo Havana Club was founded by the Arechabala family in Cardenas, Cuba in 1878. They created the Havana Club brand in 1934. Havana Club is the largest producer of Cuban rum. Under the Pernod Ricard umbrella of brands, Havana Club is the fifth – largest rum brand in the world. The distillery now produces almost 4 million cases a year. Maximo Extra Anejo is a non-vintage rum, but it is blended from a series of older rums, aged in oak casks. It is among the most expensive rums in the world. Oak, smokiness, vanilla, and caramel come across the nose with dried stone fruits. Hints of dark chocolate as well. Spicy finish.
Havana Club Seleccion de Maestros Triple Barrel Aged Rum
- This is Havana Club’s Cuban Barrel Proof edition
- The casks were hand-picked by the maestros roneros from the company’s finest aged stocks
- A big, impressive rum, with honey and apricot and power to boost! Exceptional.
Ron Varadero Anejo 15 Anos
- Ron Varadero was founded in 1862 with the support of the Spanish crown
- This golden rum is aged 15 years in white American oak casks
- Big whiffs of vanilla and brown sugar and figs. It has a beautiful, intense, long finish. Highly prized.
Havana Club Gran Reserva Anejo 15 Anos
- This rum is created by continually blending selected aged rums and aguardientes.
- Many of them are in old oak casks.
- Beautiful hints of vanilla and dried stone fruits on the nose, with hints of honey. Among one of the best aged rums in Cuba.
Hey! Is that Cuban Rum from the UK and France?
Several European distillers have taken Cuban – made rums and aged and bottled them, releasing them into the marketplace. Here are a few examples of high-end, high-quality rums.
Sancti Spiritus 14-Year-Old. This is bottled by English whisky producer Duncan Taylor. It is aged in oak, but Sancti Spiritus is special – it is among the only single barrel aged rums in the world. This is very limited bottling – less than 250 bottles. A unicorn aged rum. Highly prized.
La Compagnie Des Indes Cuba 16-Year-Old Vintage. Compagnie Des Indes is a French company founded by Florent Beuchet, whose family owns the Emile Pernot Absinthe Distillery. He has bottled many vintages of aged Cuban rum. Any one of his Cuban rum bottlings is well worth seeking and trying.
Aged Rums More Easily Found Include:
- Havana Club 5 Añejo Especial
- Havana Club Añejo 7
- Ron Varadero Añejo 7 Años
- Ron Mulata Añejo 7-Year-Old
So, sit back, pour two fingers of aged Cuban rum in a snifter or whisky glass, and set it right down next to you as you begin to contemplate that Cigar…
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