Cuban rum on the way?

[Tiggercat]

As I expected, the new US administration has wasted little time proposing the "Freedom to Travel to Cuba Act". If passed, one would imagine that trade with Cuba couldn't be far behind. Setting aside the politics (sorry, I'm just here for the rum!), what would you look forward to most? I just can't wait to get my hands on a bottle of Havana Club Anejo 15 Anos.

[TheRumelier]

While transiting thru Miami Airport recently I saw departures to Havana, Cuba on two seperate airlines on the TV screens. I have never seen this before. Hopefully a good sign of things to come.
Cuban rums I feel are special because you almost feel that you are drinking something illegal. Once they become legal to everyone, I think the mystique will wear off. They are all pretty much similar, often hiding their true ages behind the labels. All are light style, with little depth or body. However still great to add to any collection.

[RonJames]

The forbidden fruit, I'd love to taste the HC brands and would love to see how the culture imparts its identity onto the rum. Cuba from what I know is one of the few islands that produces their rum from local sugar cane (I know I can name others) and I'd like to see how this effects the rum.

[Schock Therapy]

We can get Havana Club up here, and I have to say you're not missing much! I have a couple of bottles, but they have slipped to the back of the cupboard, and only get dug out for mixing. Definitely not sippers IMHO! Perhaps there are some smaller distilleries that will benefit from the US lifting trade sanctions. (long overdue if you ask me! The cold war is ancient history!)

[gatomalo]

We can get Havana Club up here, and I have to say you're not missing much!

I tend to agree, although I've never tried the 15 or (for probably obvious reasons) the Maximo.

The 7 is a decent sipper, but there are lots of rums I'd reach for before before going to that. HC rums are nevertheless worthy additions to any collection!

[gmarket]

I really like the anejo especial. Definitely try this one if the USA lets them in.

[Arrrgh!]

I tried a few Cuban rums while in Costa Rica. Decent and also very inexpensive. I preferred Flor de Cana which was in the same price range. But always nice to drink something different.

[The Rum Ambassador]

I remember last year while visiting Mr Burr in Miami on my way to The Caribbean, one of the rums I brought him was a Havana 7, specially designed for the 7th year of their bi-annual grand prix cocktail competition. I felt like a rum runner smuggling in illegal rum into the states. I suppose if the trade embargo is lifted, I'll have to find something else to smuggle into the states.
lolg()fy

[SuperCorona]

As I expected, the new US administration has wasted little time proposing the "Freedom to Travel to Cuba Act". If passed, one would imagine that trade with Cuba couldn't be far behind. Setting aside the politics (sorry, I'm just here for the rum!), what would you look forward to most? I just can't wait to get my hands on a bottle of Havana Club Anejo 15 Anos.


HC15 is good, but not worth the premium price IMHO. I'd rather have 3 or 4 bottles of Varadero 15 or Santiago Anejo Superior.

[RobertBurr]

I remember last year while visiting Mr Burr in Miami on my way to The Caribbean, one of the rums I brought him was a Havana 7, specially designed for the 7th year of their bi-annual grand prix cocktail competition. I felt like a rum runner smuggling in illegal rum into the states. I suppose if the trade embargo is lifted, I'll have to find something else to smuggle into the states.
lolg()fy

since you're visiting us again in the coming week, see what else you can slip in to the states under the radar.

[Lew Barrett]

The Cuban export most people will be interested in won't be the rum.
cigar.gif

I have a bootlegged bottle of Santiago 11, and I like it quite well enough, but it isn't my favorite rum by any means. It is a smooth sipping rum that has a sweet spice flavor reminding one of cloves, nutmeg, and cinnamon. I believe this is rather more exaggerated in Vizcaya which is a rum I enjoy, but I prefer the more laid back nature of the Santiago.

But I have to say I don't have enough experience with the full gamut of Cuban rums to speak with much authority about them. I cart the Santiago out for people I like and the bottle is beginning to look quite on the empty side. It would be nice to be able to replinish it legally.

[WTV Rum]

I would love to try the Havana Club rums! I don't know if they are any different than other rums (quality and taste-wise), but as someone else noted, Cuban rums are certainly "forbidden fruit". At the very least, I could expand my rum-tastebuds.

Exciting news; should be interesting.

[TheRumelier]

Having read Fidel's recent comments on Obama I wouldn't hold your breath just yet. I know the Bacardi family will be fighting the lifting of any trade embargo with Cuba.
I have a very difficult decision to make this week when I finally go uo to the Bahamas. Do I load up on Cuban rums that are widely available there or do I load up on the soon to dissappear bottles of Bahamian Bacardi??????:confused:

[Bill]

It is a smooth sipping rum that has a sweet spice flavor reminding one of cloves, nutmeg, and cinnamon. I believe this is rather more exaggerated in Vizcaya...

Lew, are you saying that these two rums (I've tasted only the Vizcaya) are flavored? The Vizcaya sure seems to be.

[rumdog007]

I like the Santiago 11 Anos. It is, as Lew described, flavorful. but, with an added dimension or layer in a Cuban rum.

One of my favorites is the Ron Caney Anejo Centurio. drooling2.gif It packs a real taste wallop. I am getting low on it and need to find more, soon. For those looking to have a few Cuban rums, put that on your list!

IMO, I would not charaterize the Santiago as being like Vizcaya. But I do taste the similarity which Lew mentions. If your take on Vizcaya is that it is flavored, but still enjoy light cinnamon, clove, and nutmeg accents in a rum, then Santiago 11 is worth a try. It's a much lighter rum in overall weight and mouth feel. To me, the Vizcaya is like many of the Central American rums, sweet. The Santiago 11 hints of all of these traits, but does not overwhelm you with any of them.

For me, Havana Club Blanco Anejo is a true gem of a rum. It makes such a darn good daiquiri. I consider myself pretty experienced, now, in my "research" on the rums used in a daiquiri. One can vary the light rum used in a daiquiri and vary its taste to suit one's mood. But, once you have one made with the HC Blanco Anejo, a little voice will call you back to it! There is a fruity background in this HC rum mixed with a grassy taste. I have never found another rum which quite duplicates it. BTW, I have over 60 different light rums, now.

[Lew Barrett]

I like the Santiago 11 Anos. It is, as Lew described, flavorful. but, with an added dimension or layer in a Cuban rum......(snip)

ist!

IMO, I would not charaterize the Santiago as being like Vizcaya. But I do taste the similarity which Lew mentions. If your take on Vizcaya is that it is flavored, but still enjoy light cinnamon, clove, and nutmeg accents in a rum, then Santiago 11 is worth a try. It's a much lighter rum in overall weight and mouth feel. To me, the Vizcaya is like many of the Central American rums, sweet. The Santiago 11 hints of all of these traits, but does not overwhelm you with any of them.(snip)
..............

To respond to you Bill, I snipped rumdog's description because it reflects my feelings better than I did. It's not unusual for me to agree with him; we seem to be brothers of the same mother separated by a continent insofar as our taste buds are concerned.

Vizcaya is different than Santiago, but where there is a similarity is in the sweet spice flavors (and, I'll add, tobacco notes in flavor and/or nose) both have. Vizcaya is much more pronounced in that, whereas Santiago is subtly imbued with these spices. If it were a visual matter of color, I'd suggest that the values are all amplified to a significant degree in Vizcaya. Santiago is by a noticeable measure the more subtle.

So, an experiment is in order! Here goes. I have before me both rums, now in the glass. Colors are quite similar, both being medium dark, tawny colored rums. Santiago's legs run just a bit slower down the side of the glass.

The nose of Vizcaya is dominated by leather and tobacco, with those sweet spices, mostly clove, right behind. Santiago's nose is lighter by a yard, but still has the spices, although much less so. Some tropical fruits are available too. A sip first of the Santiago; nice, a better impression than I recorded above. Moderately sweet but balanced on the upper palette with a hint of burnt caramel bitterness. The sweet spices are there, but secondary and very balanced. I also do get some tobacco from this rum, and a smooth, warm slide down the throat. A pleasant, long finish compliments the swallow. This is better than I remembered, really quite a nice rum indeed.

Now the Vizcaya: It is sweeter as rumdog says. It lacks the little bit of (pleasing) bitterness that comes along with the Santiago, but that is not a negative, just a difference. By comparison, the profile is reminiscent, but much more up front in respect to the spices. The tobacco flavor is also there, but less dominant than with Santiago.

If I were to guess, I would say that the flavors Vizcaya is shooting for are similar to those in the Santiago but with the following characteristics: the Vizcaya is sweeter, and the flavors and notes, all of them except the tobacco, are more pronounced. On the other hand, the tobacco in the nose of the Vizcaya is significantly more present than in the Santiago.

Both fun to drink.

Man, I hope I didn't make too much of a botch of this!

Are either flavored? I wouldn't know, but if there are enhancements to either, then the Vizcaya seems to have been treated with the more liberal hand.

Rumdog's observations stand well by me.

Added: putting a drop of each between my fingers, and rubbing them until they are dry, does not leave an oily or tacky residue; whatever that's worth.

Also, I left mouth feel out of both descriptions. Despite the slower legs of the Santiago, the Vizcaya is just a bit more viscous in the mouth. Make of any of this what you will, as both rums are very, very pleasant drinks, and I suspect, both would be excellent cigar rums.

[rumdog007]

Lew, Mom sends her her regards, but scolds you on forgetting her on Valentine's Day!

Oh, yes the pleasant bitterness. I had forgotten about that aspect.

I love your willingness to bite the bullet and research this for us!


cheers.gif

[Lew Barrett]

Oy! Is Mom pissed! No wonder she always favored you:D

My pleasure to do it; somebody has to after all!

[lperry]

For me, Havana Club Blanco Anejo is a true gem of a rum. It makes such a darn good daiquiri. I consider myself pretty experienced, now, in my "research" on the rums used in a daiquiri. One can vary the light rum used in a daiquiri and vary its taste to suit one's mood. But, once you have one made with the HC Blanco Anejo, a little voice will call you back to it! There is a fruity background in this HC rum mixed with a grassy taste. I have never found another rum which quite duplicates it. BTW, I have over 60 different light rums, now.
Thanks for the recommendation. I thought I had mixed a fair number of daiquiris, but I'm more than fifty rums behind you in my own research! eek.gif Something to which I can aspire. I'll try the blanco aсejo next time I'm some place where I can find it.

[TheRumelier]

You guys have had me researching a future rumtrip all day. Despite seeing flghts to Havana on the departure boards at MIA you cannot find those flights on any US website online. I did find flights from the Bahamas via Cacun, and Montego Bay. Also found a flight from here to Montego Bay twice a week. A charter to Santiago, Cuba from here runs at $8000, so just need to find 7 other rum friends for a long weekend of rumming, even though I would prefer Havana. Not sure Cuban rum is worth that much cash though!!
I will ask my expert travel agent tomorrow for all the inside information and update before I leave for Nassau.cigar.gif

[rumdog007]

1. HC Silver
2. HC Blanco Anejo
3. Caribbean Club Silver
4. Don Q Cristal
5. Ron Varadero Silver
6. Ron Mulata Blanco Reserva 3
7. Witch’s Rock
8. Barbancourt White
9. Mount Gay Sugar Cane
10. Mount Gay Eclipse Silver
11. Mount Gay
12. Bacardi Silver
13. Myers Silver
14. Cruzan 2 Year
15. Cruzan 14 Month
16. Cruzan 1 Year
17. El Dorado Silver
18. Ron San Pablo Curacao
19. Bacardi Havana Club
20. Ruby Rey
21. Starr/Green Island Superior Rum
22. Venado
23. Papagayo
24. Angostura White
25. Neisson Blanc
26. La Favorite Blanco
27. Barrique White Rum
28. Doorly’s White
29. Flor de Cana 4
30. Rhum Saint James Blanc
31. Yahara Bay
32. Ron Rico Silver
33. Castillo Silver
34. D’Aristi Special White
35. Charbay White
36. Pyrat Blanco
37. New Orleans White
38. Clement Premier Canne
39. Yahara Bay
40. Tanduay White
41. Tondena White
42. Brugal
43. Conch Republic White
44. Mount Gay Special Reserve
45. Prichards White
46. Rogue White
47. Elements 8
48. Wray and Nephew Overproof
49. Cohiba Silver
50. CJ Wray White
51. Ron Ocumare
52. Cubaney Plata 3 Year
53. 10 Cane
54. Oronoco
55. Appleton Special
56. Cohiba 151
57. Hana Bay Light
58. Trader Vic’s Light Rum
59. Montecristo Silver
60. Ron Matusalem Plantino
61. Tommy Bahama Silver Sand
62. Palo Viejo White
63. Clarkes Court White Rum
64. Santa Teresa Claro

[lperry]

My much less impressive list includes Bacardi silver, Don Q Cristal, Cruzan Estate light, Appleton white, and Flor de Caсa extra dry, my favorite so far. The Bacardi and Appleton were served to me in bars in various places, but they were in real daiquiris - not those frozen, sugary abominations. I want to put Barbancourt in the queue for this summer. It's got to get warm sometime.

[rumdog007]

lperry, Don Q Cristal makes a daiquiri that allows the flavor of the lime and, if a Hemingway, the marischino liqueur, and grapefruit peek out a little more. The Flor de Cana does the same thing, but makes it a little drier. The Appleton shades the drink a little differently and brings in some added taste of very suble fruit and a peppery tinge. The Bacardi is just really too neutral for my taste. Pyrat Blanco, now discontinued, but still on some shelves is a real treat in a daiquiri. If you are in Europe and happen upon Rhum Saint James Blanc, you are in for a big eye opening.

http://www.saintjames-rum.com/saint-james.html

The use of an agricole probably voids the finished product from being a true daiquiri, but one must taste this before dismissing it. I find the Rhum Saint James line a little more "rum" than "rhum" so, the Blanc works, I think.

[TheRumelier]

I finally found a way to get to Havana from here. Have to go via Nassau on BahamasAir and then on to Havana either with BahamasAir again or with Cubana Air. I think I will stick with bananasair as my last experience on a Russian prop plane was memorable to say the least. I will be in Nassau tomorrow so will check to see if it is all possible. Hope to visit the New Bacardi Store and see what is happening with the Distillery. Will pick up a few Cuban rums aswell while I'm there. Oh yeah, rum and conch salad, life is good!!cheers.gif

[Rum Runner]

As they say in the State of Maine in the USA. You can't get there from here!

Sounds like you have found a good connection.

I was doing some research on getting from here to Provo on scheduled airlines..and it made my eyes water. Further research reveals I can charter a Piper Aztec 5 seater from San Juan to Provo direct and bypass all the you know what for about the same price. Still it ain't cheap.

Have fun in Nassau.

[TheRumelier]

Further research reveals I can charter a Piper Aztec 5 seater from San Juan to Provo direct and bypass all the you know what for about the same price. Still it ain't cheap.
Keep those details incase me and the rugrats come down next year. I'm having a Bacardi 8 in anticipation of tomorrow!! I have also set up a couple of road trips in Freeport with some old drinkng buddies. When I get into Freeport I have to go straight to the Rugby Club. Time to say hello to my little friend, Bacardi Anejo and Gingerparty2.gif

Will report back soonparty1.gif

[seabass]

While transiting thru Miami Airport recently I saw departures to Havana, Cuba on two seperate airlines on the TV screens. I have never seen this before. Hopefully a good sign of things to come.
Cuban rums I feel are special because you almost feel that you are drinking something illegal. Once they become legal to everyone, I think the mystique will wear off. They are all pretty much similar, often hiding their true ages behind the labels. All are light style, with little depth or body. However still great to add to any collection.


........This

[tikishire]

Bizarrely, living in a bit of a rum desert (I usually have to make a 15 mile trip or order over the net), the HC Anejo Especial the easiest quality rum for me to buy locally - it is sold in a mini-market just a 5 minute walk from my house!

I do enjoy both the 7 and the 15, which are readily available in England, and I do start my newbie friends on the Especial as it's a smooth sipper. But HC are better mixers - you'll never get a better Cuba Libre :)

All in all I think better access to some real classics - along with more reasonable prices - means that the Americans have us Brits at an advantage even if they can't go Cuban!

[bluewave6]

I want to put Barbancourt in the queue for this summer. It's got to get warm sometime.

Barbancourt White is one of my favorite white rums. Another white rum I really enjoy is Ocumare Aged White from Venezuela. These both make great Ti Punches or even to sip neat.