The Best Cuban Rum Brands to Buy Today
Today's news of the Obama administration's relaxing the trade rules with Cuba means starting on Monday, Americans will be able to buy unlimited quantities of Cuban rum in any country in which it's sold - and bring it back to the United States.
T&C consulted two New York rum experts, Kenneth McCoy from The Rum House and Jack McGarry of the newly opened, Cuban-themed BlackTail, for their recommendations on which Cuban rums are worth buying today:
1. Havana Club 7 Años - "This is an añejo that makes an amazing rum and coke. It's delicious." - McCoy
2. Havana Club Selección de Maestros - "This is the perfect aged rum for the El Presidente, which is one of the prerequisite Cuban classics. The classic drink has quite a few sweet modifiers (like orange curaçao and pomegranate) and the heavier alcohol, at 45 percent, helps cut through that sweetness. Even though it's got a higher ABV, it's an incredibly smooth rum with hints of tobacco, pecans and chocolate. " - McGarry
3. Ron Santero 11 Year - "Another beautiful sipping rum that's wonderful with cigars. This is a rum that's bordering on the world of single malt Scotch. It's aged in oak casks and it's hard to believe it's an 11-year-old rum because it's so light and airy. It comes in under 80 proof, which is probably why you could drink it all day without ever really feeling it." - McCoy
4. Samaroli Cuba 2003 - "This is from an Italian company that made a Cuban rum back in 2003. It's a 15-year-old. It's outstanding, and you can buy that here. It's not cheap, but if you can get your hands on that, it's really interesting." - McCoy
5. Santiago de Cuba - "When you go to Cuba you drink mojitos because they're everywhere. Cuba and mojitos go hand-in-hand. The palm trees, the water, they evoke that. I remember having this rum in a mojito when I was there and it was absolutely delicious." - McCoy
"An ideal rum for a daiquiri, full of sweet tropical notes such as banana, papaya and a hint of citrus." - McGarry
6. Havana Club Especial - "Here's one of my favorite rums for cocktail use, period. It's got tremendous body with a taste reminiscent of the Cafe Brulot (a New Orleans Classic) and notes of burnt orange, vanilla, cinnamon, and a lovely woody note. It's a great rum for the iconic Cuba Libre."
7. Havana Club 15-Year-Old Gran Reserva - "If you can afford this then I say why not! You are in for a treat, this 15-year-old packs a punch of sweet dark chocolate, tropical fruit flavors, brown sugar, and spice. This baby is made up of a blend of only the finest aged rums and aguardiente (translation: Fire Water). It's obviously wonderful with a cigar and even better if it's a Cohiba! Come on baby - light my fire!"
"The rum explosion has been massive, and I think it's going to be the next big spirit," McCoy says. "What's happening in Cuba at the moment is just going to catapult it into the mainstream."
[related id="bc9d3c93-1bf6-4104-90d9-1c71c3f0724e" align="left"][/related]
You Might Also Like
