For as long as we can remember, this golden-brown nectar has been a core part of Cuba’s national identity. In addition to its expansive sugar cane industry (a crop that was originally introduced to the Americas by Christopher Columbus way back in the 1400s) and traditional cigars, rum has played a major role in fuelling the country’s economy for centuries (since the mid 1600s to be exact). It was first established as a bi-product of molasses during sugar cane cultivation in the 1700s and 1800s, where it was utilised for both local consumption and exportation purposes, and to this day rum has remained an essential part of Cuban culture.
In honour of this sophisticated spirit, we’ve rounded up everything you need to know about Cuban rum – including the best way to drink it and which brand holds the top spot…
Havana Club is the most popular rum
First sold in 1934 by one of the largest family-owned rum distilleries, José Arechabala S.A., the popularity of Havana Club continued to thrive after the company was nationalised in the 1960s (after the Cuban Revolution) and was soon to become a sought-after spirit that would successfully be sold abroad from the 1970s, onwards. Today, it stands as the fifth largest rum brand in the world and is the most popular rum produced in the whole of Cuba.
Impressive, right? Like many of the companies here, Havana Club is a partnership between the Cuban state company NAMA and French spirits distributor Pernod Ricard.
Visit Havana’s Rum Museum
It goes without saying that no trip to the capital is complete without sampling the city’s finest spirit, which can be easily organised at the dedicated rum museum, Museo del Ron. Located in the heart of Old Havana, delve into Cuba’s roots with an insightful guided tour, which walks you through the history of the island’s culture, explains the rum distilling process via a series of scale models, and – the best part – welcomes visitors to sample a menu full of contemporary cocktails in the on-site bar.
Wandering museums is thirsty work, after all!
The Best Way To Drink Cuban Rum, is Neat
We don’t know about you, but whenever we visit somewhere new, we like to “do as the locals do” – you know, for the full authentic experience. And in this case, it’s drinking rum neat. Whilst rum cocktails are all the rage here (more on this shortly), this is actually the favourable way for Cubans to drink rum, especially if it’s nicely aged. Whether you throw in a refreshing cube of ice or pair it with a hand-rolled cigar, connoisseurs are sure to be pleasantly surprised.
It’s a Key Ingredient to the Most Delicious Cocktails
As promised, it’s time to explore the island’s most popular cocktails, and, unsurprisingly, they all revolve around our star ingredient. Walk into popular haunts such as El Floridita and you’ll find a list as long as your arm full of delicious tropical rum-based cocktails, the most popular including Mojitos, Daiquiri’s (Earnest Hemingway’s favourite) and Cuba Libre’s – the country’s signature cocktail!
To Make The Best Rum You’ll Need Specific Climate Conditions
There’s good reason that many of the world’s best rums are made in the Caribbean. The colour, flavour, aromatics, and characteristics of different rums depend greatly on where they are made, making each sample as unique as the next. Spanish and English rum are typically made from the molasses leftover from sugar cane grown on the island’s plantations, which generally require a tropical climate that experiences 30-50 inches of rain over 8-10 months of the year! Very specific…
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