The Rums of Santiago de Cuba

[Arctic Wolf]

Rum Review: Santiago de Cuba Ron Carta Blanca

Santiago de Cuba Ron Carta Blanca, is an authentic Cuban rum which was provided for me to sample by a good friend, who just returned from the Caribbean. He asked me to take the bottle home with me, try as much as I needed to and place the review on my Blog. (Some of my friends think it is really cool to see the rums they love reviewed on my blog. whereas, I think it is really cool to have friends who think like that.)

I have very little information on the rum, other than what I can decipher from the label and the smattering of information on the internet where it is sold by some internet dealers as a standard Cuban white rum.

Here is an excerpt from the review:

“…The caramel flavour of the rum is soft, and I also taste light minty candy flavours. Flashes of vanilla present themselves, but I catch no nutty flavours at all. Some Banana peel and citrus elements appear, but they are mellowed rather than too sharp….”

You may read the full review here…

Rum Review: Santiago de Cuba Ron Carta Blanca (http://http://therumhowlerblog.wordpress.com/2010/07/15/rum-review-santiago-de-cuba-ron-carta-blanca/)

[Jason]

I have a Santiago 11yr I brought back from Cuba this year. It was pretty good, but about standard for the Cubans I've tried. It had that Cuban woodiness to it.

I haven't opened the Santiago 20yr I came back with...

[Arctic Wolf]

I have also been given a bottle of Santiago De Cuba Ron Anejo through another source and told that this was an 11 year old rum. (I will be reviewing it next week) I could decipher no age statement on the bottle, but I seriously doubt that it is eleven years old as it is claimed. It seemed in tasting to be a simple anejo of about 3 to five years. Does your bottle have an age statement, and if it does, what soes it say?

[Jason]

No, your doubts are correct. The Anejo is not the 11yr. Mine is labeled "Anejo Superior" and clearly states "11 years old" on the bottle and box.

[Jason]

This pic sucks... But here's what it looks like (and the 20yr):

www.brokennetwork.ca/pics/rum/santiago.jpg

[Jason]

This pic sucks... But here's what it looks like (and the 20yr):

That URL is wrong... www.brokennetwork.ca/pics/rum/santiago.JPG

[Arctic Wolf]

Thanks Jason.

A few internet retailers are flogging the Anejo as an eleven year old, Its nice to see the real Eleven year Old.

(BTW next meeting will be in August)

[Arctic Wolf]

Thanks Jason.

A few internet retailers are flogging the Anejo as an eleven year old, Its nice to see the real Eleven year Old.

(BTW next meeting will be in August)

I am hoping that my shipment from the Koloa distillery will have cleared customs by then

[Jason]

Cool. I don't think I have any real commitments in August so I should be good to attend.

I have your glass flask filled with English Harbour 10yr to replace the MG 1703 is used to have. And that Renegade Block Rock is still mostly full waiting for the Chums to have a go at it.

[Arctic Wolf]

Ron Anejo Santigo de Cuba is an authentic Cuban rum which was provided for me to sample. I was asked me to take the bottle home with me, try a few ounces and to provide an opinion. I decided it would be nice to share this opinion on my blog as well.

I have found very little information about the rum, other than what I can decipher from the label and the smattering of information on the internet where it is sold by some internet dealers as an 11-year-old rum, and others as simply an anejo rum without age statement. I also ran across claims that this was Fidel Castro’s favourite rum. A claim which I can neither confirm nor deny.

Here is a clip from my review:

“…The mouth is clean and slightly sharp with orange peel, lime and oak spice. Mild toffee and almonds combine with charred coconut, and perhaps a hint of treacle. There is the vaguest hint of leather and smoke but these elements are underdeveloped…”

You may read the rest of the review here:

Rum Review: Santiago De Cuba Ron Anejo (http://therumhowlerblog.wordpress.com/2010/08/05/rum-review-santiago-de-cuba-ron-anejo/)

[Calgaryx]

Hi Chip, the Santiago you have on your blog is not the 11 year. the 11 year comes with a black label clearly showing the age statement. If memory serves me the one you have in the picture is the 7 year.

[Arctic Wolf]

I realize it is not the 11 year old, I was just relaying that some internet sites are claiming it as 11 years old (rotten beggars). Based upon my tasting, I doubt it is a 7 year old either; Unless they mean a tiny smidgen of the rum is 7 and the rest is 2 to 3 years old. I am pretty sure if it was seven years old the fact would be trumpeted on the age statement.

Mind you I am not accusing Santiago of misleading anyone, rather I think the middlemen that are between Santiago and the markets outside Cuba are a little creative in their marketing.

The term "Anejo" is used almost exclusively to describe spirits aged for less than five years. If a spirit is aged longer than that, terms like "Grand Anejo" or "Extra Anejo" are used. (These terms are sometimes used to describe spirits of less than 5 years aging as well.) It would be most unusual for the term "anejo" to refer to a 7 year aged product.