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Rum has a rich history and unique manufacturing technology. There are a large number of varieties and brands of rum, which differ in composition and method of manufacture.
rum cocktails
Cubanacan
Authentic Cuban rum of dark brown color, presented in aged blends from 5 to 12 years. You can buy 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 alcohol content of 30 degrees, while the dry version has the standard 40% alcohol.
Also, sweet rum has an unusual and pleasant taste, which is achieved through the dried fruit of Guayabita.
Guayabita (psidium salutare) is a small tree from the myrtle family. The fruits are spherical, up to 1,5 cm in diameter, weighing from 0,9 to 1,8 g, green, edible after ripening.
Drink Guayabita del Pinar in its pure form, and as part of cocktails. In the production of this drink, in addition to exotic berries, vanilla, sugar, caramel, roots and herbs are used.
Rum aging takes place in cedar barrels for at least thirty days.
Havana Club
This rum is the pride of the “Island of Freedom”. It got its name in honor of the capital of Cuba. The main distinguishing feature is a wide range of alcoholic products. The company offers eight varieties of rum, so everyone can choose a drink to their liking. The fortress varies between 40-45%.
The Cuban capital has a themed museum dedicated to Havana Club rum. Here they will talk about the technology for the production of strong alcoholic products from sugar cane, conduct exciting excursions and organize a tasting of the drink.
Cuban rum is a legendary drink. It can be drunk separately, with the help of such alcohol they prepare delicious dishes and unforgettable cocktails. Mixing rum with various ingredients will create unusual aromas, and the aftertaste will leave only positive impressions.
Details about Havana Club
Legendary
This rum stands out from other brands. It has a soft and well-balanced taste. 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. The drink called Legendario Elixir de Cuba is especially popular.
Rum created by this company is very unusual. It has a low fortress, 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.
Methuselah
Solid rum, with a long history dating back to 1870.
The word Matusalem is taken from the proverb: “Esto es mas viejo que Matusalem”, which translated into Russian means “Older than Methuselah” – this is the name of the biblical apostle who lived 969 years. The name was chosen specifically in order to focus the attention of the buyer on the long-term exposure, which is necessary to achieve the most unique rum organoleptic properties.
Interestingly, to give a characteristic taste to rum, they use the ancient method of “solera” (Solera), which is used by Spanish winemakers to age sherry and brandy.
The meaning of the process is to mix young and old alcohols. For this, a pyramid of barrels is used, in the upper tier of which are the youngest spirits, and in the lower tier the oldest.
Rum is always bottled from lower barrels. The method involves a cascade overflow of a portion 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 spirits is formed in the lowest row of barrels, the age of which can only be determined approximately.
Ron Caney
Made with love, the highest quality rum dates back to 1862. The drink absorbed the spirit and the best traditions of Cuban masters. Rum is deservedly considered one of the best both in Cuba and throughout Latin America.
The combination of an affordable price with an amazing taste puts Caney beyond any competition, so this rum is in the most confident demand among bartenders and is used as part of 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 the Sierra Maestre, which are an important part of the history of the island.
Distillation is carried out in the city of Santiago de Cuba, which is considered the true soul of the musical and cultural heritage of the island, and also the cradle of the first rums of Cuba, the birthplace of the signature Cuban style of the drink.
Kanei’s assortment includes both white rum and dark rum. Aged Kanei is best drunk neat, without ice. But light can be used in such famous combinations as rum with cola, rum with whiskey, rum and Pepsi, with tea, etc.
Ron Cubay
A real folk Cuban drink, which is drunk by the inhabitants of Cuba themselves. This is the most authentic rum, the very one that Hemingway, a frequenter of Cuban bars, so sincerely loved.
The drink is produced in the small town of Santa Domingo, but it is sold all over the world. However, there is a problem, in Russia, for some unknown reason, the organoleptic properties of rum are very different from the original Cuban version.
The Cuban version of Cubay has a pronounced sweetish aftertaste, it cannot be confused with any other strong alcohol. You don’t need to eat rum, it is self-sufficient and tastes good.
There are three types of rum Cubay:
Cubay Anejo
The most common rum. The color is slightly cloudy, and smoky and oaky shades are felt in the aroma and taste.
Cubay Black
Classic rum, blacker than a pirate flag and more severe than the character of an experienced boatswain.
Cubay White
Thanks to repeated cleaning with charcoal, the rum has an exceptionally clear color. Aroma and aftertaste have the expressed oak shades.
Ron Edmund Dantes
Exclusive rum with a limited edition of 3000 bottles per year. At least 15 years old.
The alcohol is balanced and soft with hints of vanilla, nuts, coffee and tobacco. The ending is very long. Fortress: 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 distillery, which is over 50 years old.
Rum is aged in white American oak barrels, which give the drink a unique aromatic texture.
Although Ron Mulata dominates much of the local Cuban market, it is now becoming increasingly popular in Europe as well.
Types of rum Ron Mulata:
Rum Mulata Añejo 7 Year Old
Rum Mulata Añejo 5 Years
Rum Mulata White Reserve 3 Year Old
Rum Mulata 15 Year Old Gran Reserva Añejo
Rum Mulata Añejo White
The strength of all drinks is 38% vol.
Rum Varadero
With the support of the Spanish Crown, the Varadero Rum Distillery was founded in 1862 to produce the first aged traditional rum.
Now the rum is distilled, aged and bottled in Santiago de Cuba, the birthplace of rum.
Varadero is the second largest Cuban rum company that has recently entered the European market.
Types of Rum Varadero:
Palma Superior
Rum of a beautiful amber color, aged in oak barrels, which previously held sherry.
This aging process gives the taste and aroma of rum more brightness and all sorts of shades.
The bouquet is very complex, with notes of vanilla, tobacco and spices. The taste is powerful, refreshing, with an unexpected coffee aftertaste.
Gold Letter
It has an elegant color of old gold, which indicates exposure much longer than is customary.
The aroma is subtle, but at the same time multi-layered, includes notes of ginger, coconut, honey, marzipan and spices.
The taste is complex, rounded, with noticeable tones of exotic fruits and citrus fruits. The finish is long, but very light and pleasant.
Silver
Bright, young rum can be an excellent base for cocktails, including the legendary Cuba Libre.
Unusual this rum makes it a year and a half aging in oak barrels. Crystal-clear, extraordinarily transparent color is achieved by carbon filtration.
Interestingly, the aromatic component donated by the oak barrel is completely preserved.
Coconut notes with a hint of oak wood are well felt in the bouquet. The taste is well balanced, slightly sweet.
White
The delicate, pale yellow color of the rum speaks of three years of aging in white oak barrels.
It has an intriguing, addictive aroma with subtle notes of mint.
The taste of the drink is dry, it pinches the tongue a little. The finish is clean and long lasting with hints of coffee.
Anejo 7 Years Old
Refined sweetish rum of dark amber color, which appears after aging in oak barrels for seven years.
The aroma is perfectly balanced, there are savory notes of spicy and soft fruits, which are combined with notes of cut grass and chocolate.
The taste of rum is delicate, soft with an unusual elegant aftertaste. This rum can be called the best digestif in the Varadero rum collection.
Supreme Annex
A real aristocrat in the line of Varadero rums. The aging period is amazing – 18 years in oak barrels!
Rum has a rich dark chestnut color with amber reflections around 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 unusually complex, balanced and viscous. Tones of coffee beans emphasize all the richness of flavors that long exposure gave this Cuban rum. The aftertaste is long, extremely weighty.
The strength of all drinks is 38% vol.
Santero Ron
Cuban rum produced by one of the oldest companies, Tecnoazúcar. The plant has half a century of experience in the manufacture of alcoholic beverages, so it is not at all surprising that the rum from this company has the highest quality and unsurpassed taste.
There are many guesses and legends about the name of the 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 trend were called “Santero”. Their mysterious rituals, dances and songs became an integral part of Cuban culture after some time.
All processes for the production of Santero rum are carried out manually and only according to ancient traditions and recipes. Here, until now, alcohols are obtained by distillation in ancient copper alambicas. Distillers are not accidentally made of copper – it is known that it is this material that makes it possible to achieve continuous and uniform distillation, which positively affects the quality of the final alcohols. They become softer and richer, and their wonderful aftertaste can please even the most fastidious expert.
The basis of the Cuban rum Santero is exclusively the lower part of the selected sugar cane, where the largest amount of sugar accumulates during the growth of this crop. During the fermentation process of 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 aftertaste or even ruin a good Cuban rum.
Characteristics of Santero rum
The color of the drink is bright golden with yellow reflections around the edges of the glass bottle.
The taste of Santero rum is a little rough, but thanks to the excellent balance, this is not so noticeable. It has light notes of sugar syrup, oak chips and coffee beans.
The aftertaste is very pleasant and very long.
You can drink Cuban rum Santero both in its pure form and use it as a base for cocktails.
This Cuban rum is best served chilled or with two pieces of crushed ice.
Casa Particular in 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 “keeping with tradition.”
Cuban rum Santiago de Cuba has a very long exposure. This applies to all products offered by the manufacturer to consumers. For example, light rum must be aged for three years. It is worth noting that other manufacturers insist this drink for no more than a year.
Cane alcohol will appeal to even demanding connoisseurs. The fortress varies between 38-40%. Having tried rum, you will appreciate all the positive qualities.
Advice from Shake
What kind of rum to buy for a gift and for yourself in Cuba? It’s simple – you have to decide for yourself based on the information presented above ( cap 🙃 ).
Focus on the parameters:
Holding time
Only dark rum
Softness or vice versa hardness of taste
Price
It is advisable to buy rum only after tasting, if such an option is available.
It is worth going to the production only if you are sure that you will take the rum of this particular brand, otherwise the time will be spent inefficiently.
Your best bet is to find a local bar (not a tourist one) and try different brands from Shakedown’s list there.
rum history here
Relevance: 30.12.2019
Tags: Rum, Roma brands