Havana Club 7 Year Old Rum
| Darcy O'Neil :: February 7, 2007 7:03 PM |
When you think Cuba, you either think Castro, cigars or rum. Well skip the first two and focus on the rum. Havana Club is the main rum producer on this tropical island and they have been producing great rum since the late 1800's. The most widely available aged rum is the Havana Club 7 Year version, which is my preferred rum. Why do I like it you ask? Well, it is reasonably priced ($30 per bottle), it can be sipped straight or used to make a rum and Coke and its flavour is fairly light bodied so it doesn’t over power cocktails. This rum works really well in a Mai Tai too.
First, I know many people cannot get real Havana Club (not the opportunistic Bacardi version) because of the US trade embargo. Hopefully some day the embargo will be lifted and the US can gain access to this great rum. Actually, before that happens I should stock up!
Havana Club makes only a few internationally available rums including their silver rum (Anejo Blanco), the three year old, oak aged, whitish rum that is perfect for mojitos, the Anejo Reserva, the seven year and the fifteen year old Gran Reserva. There is also a barrel proof Havana Club rum and Máximo an ultra premium aged rum which is very rare and ultra expensive.
Rum that have been aged in oak barrels, in warmer climates, tend to extract more of the oak flavours from the barrel because of the increase in temperature. This tends to make a 7 year old rum equivalent to a 15 year old whisky. It’s close, but really that simple, but rums that would seem young in whisky years are actually very smooth and mature for their age.
Havana Club 7 Tasting Notes:
Appearance: Golden in colour with a brownish hue.
Nose: Aromas of molasses, sugar cane and a subtle tobacco note.
Taste: Smooth with vanilla, oak and a slight molasses sweetness. Subtle tobacco / smokey finish with a bit of wood spice.
The Havana Club 7 Year has an almost scotch like characteristic because of the tobacco smokiness. This smokiness probably comes from the use of heavy char oak barrels during aging. If you like scotch and want to try rums for a change, try the Havana Club 7 Year, you might be surprised.
Overall this rum is probably the one to beat for price and quality. It’s not an overpowering rum, but has more than a fermented molasses flavour, common in cheaper rums. It doesn’t have the burn associated with cheaper rums either, which makes this great for sipping, I prefer mine with a single, large, ice cube. The smoothness also makes it great for making cocktails and at $30 CDN per bottle you don’t feel like you are wasting great vintage rum.
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14 Comments on Havana Club 7 Year Old Rum
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Dang it! I meant to get a bottle of this while I was in Whistler. Oh, well. The next Canada trip I'm planning is in August. Maybe then.
You had me at Mai Tai. I would LOVE to get some of this for use in my tropicals.
Like you said, hopefully someday the US will drop the embargo. Doesn't the government realize access to top-shelf rum is a matter of national importance??
Craig,
I have a better idea. Let's make a trip up to Darcy's and have him show us all the magical liquor stores ...
I have noticed, however, that PA is carrying a few more good rums (and bourbons) lately. Maybe the new chairman isn't only a wine aficionado.
My only real experience with a US liquor store is Sam's in Chicago, which is an awesome store. The LCBO stores in Ontario are pretty big, not Sam's big, but they really do stock a wide selection.
Your welcome to visit anytime, we'll do the LCBO tour.
Great idea Rick!
(Darcy, if two guys suddenly show up on your doorstep demanding booze... it'll be us.) ;-)
...Not so great rum:
In several bars I tried a good selection of rums - but Havana Club is definitely not my favorite!
One point at this brand is disturbing for me: which quality you choose it has anytime this ester flavor, this scent and taste of cheap alcohol! And you have it even in the 15 years old Havana club, which is definitely not a bargain!
If you want to have exactly a medium aged rum, I like Bacardi 8 years, but even more I like something more special like Brugal, El Dorado, Botran etc.
May be I am alone with this opinion, but I cannot see a point for Havana Club. Don't get me wrong - I am not against Cuba - Ron Varadero also a Cuban rum with the same qualities as Havana Club is even less expensive and it is in my eyes much better...
What comparable rum is available in the US market? I would love to find a rum with a similar flavor profile, but I don't know where to start.
Makes the best tasting mojito! SOmething about this rum makes this refreshing drink even more enjoyable.
The rubbish havana clubs you have tasted are likely the rip offs made for the US market.
i just stumbled onto this, and the Maximo rum is available for a limited time at the big LCBO store in Toronto. just so you know. but my favourite cuban rum, not available here, is the "Mulata Anjeho" fantastic. Also, the Tortuga rum from the caymans.
Sorry Darcy, but you are a tad misinformed about the pedigree of the Havana Club Rum which is prohibited in the US.
The Original Havana Club Rum along with Bacardi were made extremely popular in the years following the Spanish American War. Increased tourism to the country was further spiked by the Prohibition and is when Havana Club achieved its legendary status. At this time HC and Bacardi were competitors.
However, fast-forward to 1959 and as it became clear that Castro planned to nationalize the liquor sectors Bacardi moved its HQ and all of its trademarked assets to Puerto Rico. Unfortunately, Havana Club was not lucky enough to leave in time.
While Bacardi was able to resume its production of rum and later became a bar staple, the Arechabala's fled with only their secret family recipe.
Since it was not viable for them to restart the Havana Club name they did the next best thing and sold their recipe to their old competitors Bacardi. After a lengthy international trademark battle in 1999 (The US Bacardi Act) the original amazing Havana Club recipe is once again being produced by Bacardi.
It has yet to make to my state in the US, but I am eagerly awaiting the day I can offer this classic to my patrons.
I find this rum really easy to drink and it does taste a lot of sugar and molasses without being heavy. Together with Appleton VX it makes a great Mai Tai to reasonable price. Easy to sip neat and easy to mix with a good rumm y flavor.
I`m not comparing it with El Dorado15 or Zacapa 23...but its a good and versatile rum that is not too expensive. Hope you get it widely available in the US soon.
I've been sipping Havana Club for yonks - (drink it neat, use some lesser spirit for mai tais). Recently my hubby spent a fortnight in Cuba taking a course. He treated me to a bottle of Gran Reserve. Unbelievably smooth.
I'm heading down there next, and will be bring back a case of the stuff. Does anyone know what the Canadian tariff is on declaring alcohol?
This is my favourite drink. I have always loved the 5 year especial, good with coke, but this stuff is like nectar!! it has to be drank straight, maybe with a little ice and lime. at 20 quid for a 70cl bottle in blitey the coke just ruins it. god i love this drink, i havent got any an havent had some for a while. i think its time to spend 20 quid. god i love this drink