Cuban Rum: The Spirit of an Island

Some drinks transcend the simple act of drinking. Cuban rum is one of them: a spirit that tells stories of sugarcane plantations, colonial ports, and Havana nights where son music mixes with the clinking of glasses.

Cuba didn’t invent rum, but it perfected it. And that perfection has a name: Cuban light rum, a style that revolutionized the world industry and remains the benchmark for distillers across the globe.

History of Rum in Cuba

Colonial Origins

The history of Cuban rum begins in the 16th century when Spanish colonizers brought sugarcane to the Caribbean. Molasses, a byproduct of sugar mills, was fermented to produce a rustic aguardiente consumed by slaves and sailors.

By the 18th century, Cuba was already exporting “sugarcane aguardiente” to Spain and other colonies. But the real qualitative leap came in the 19th century.

The Light Rum Revolution

In 1862, a Spanish immigrant named Facundo Bacardí Massó experimented with filtering and aging techniques in Santiago de Cuba. The result was a smoother, cleaner, more elegant rum: the birth of Cuban light rum.

This innovation changed everything. While other Caribbean rums were heavy and harsh, Cuban rum seduced with its refinement. By 1900, Cuba was synonymous with world-class rum.

The 20th Century and the Revolution

The 1959 revolution transformed the industry. Distilleries were nationalized and Bacardí went into exile (today producing in Puerto Rico and Mexico). The Cuban government created Cuba Ron S.A., which groups the main national brands.

The Havana Club brand, which had belonged to the Arechabala family, was relaunched in 1972 and today is the international face of Cuban rum, distributed globally by Pernod Ricard.

The Great Brands of Cuban Rum

Havana Club

The most internationally recognized brand. Its range includes:

• Havana Club 3 Años: Ideal for mojitos and refreshing cocktails
• Havana Club 7 Años: The workhorse, perfect neat or on the rocks
• Havana Club Selección de Maestros: Premium blend of aged rums
• Havana Club 15 Años Gran Reserva: Limited edition for collectors
• Havana Club Máximo Extra Añejo: Only 1,000 bottles annually, the crown jewel

👉 Buy Havana Club at The Whisky Exchange

Santiago de Cuba

Produced in the birthplace of Cuban rum, Santiago de Cuba is less known but equally respected among connoisseurs:

• Santiago de Cuba Carta Blanca: Fresh and versatile
• Santiago de Cuba Añejo: Balanced, with vanilla notes
• Santiago de Cuba Añejo 11 Años: Considered by many the best Cuban rum for sipping
• Santiago de Cuba Añejo 12 Años Extra Añejo: Extraordinary complexity

👉 Explore Santiago de Cuba

Ron Cubay

Less known outside Cuba, Cubay is a favorite among locals and specialized bartenders:

• Cubay Carta Blanca: Excellent value for money
• Cubay Añejo Suave: Accessible and easy to drink
• Cubay Añejo 10 Años Reserva Especial: Surprisingly complex

Legendario

Famous for its Elixir de Cuba, a sweet rum infused with spices that divides opinions but has devoted followers. It’s more of a liqueur than a pure rum, but represents a unique Cuban tradition.

Ron Mulata

Another hidden treasure. Distilled in Villa Clara, Ron Mulata offers quality rums at accessible prices, popular on the island but rare to find internationally.

Types of Cuban Rum by Aging

Type	Years	Characteristics	Ideal Use
Carta Blanca	0-3	Light, fresh, citrus notes	Mojitos, Daiquirís
Carta Oro / Gold	3-5	Smooth, vanilla, honey	Cuba Libre, Old Fashioned
Añejo	5-7	Caramel, oak, soft spices	Neat or on the rocks
Añejo Reserva	7-12	Chocolate, nuts, tobacco	Slow sipping
Extra Añejo	12+	Extreme complexity, tannins	Contemplation

How to Taste Cuban Rum

For Aged Rums (7+ years)

1. Room temperature - Never cold, you’ll lose aromas
2. Snifter or short glass - Allows aromas to concentrate
3. Observe the color - From amber to mahogany indicates aging
4. Smell first - Before tasting, identify notes
5. Small sips - Let it coat your entire tongue
6. A splash of water (optional) - Opens new aromas

For Classic Cocktails

Mojito

• 60ml Havana Club 3 Años
• Juice of 1 lime
• 2 teaspoons sugar
• 6-8 spearmint leaves
• Club soda
• Muddle gently, don’t crush the mint

Cuba Libre

• 60ml gold rum
• Mexican Coca-Cola (with real sugar)
• Juice of half a lime
• Order matters: ice, rum, lime, cola

Daiquirí

• 60ml Havana Club 3 Años
• 30ml fresh lime juice
• 15ml simple syrup
• Shake with ice, serve strained

Where to Buy Cuban Rum

Outside Cuba, the U.S. embargo complicates things, but there are options:

Europe

• The Whisky Exchange - UK, international shipping
• Master of Malt - Excellent selection
• La Casa del Habano - Physical stores in various cities

Mexico and Latin America

• Havana Club and Santiago de Cuba are widely available in liquor stores
• Duty free at Cuban airports for limited editions

Canada

• LCBO (Ontario) and SAQ (Quebec) have limited selection
• Havana Club Canada for store locator

Note for U.S. readers: The Havana Club sold in the United States is produced by Bacardí in Puerto Rico and is a different product from the Cuban original. For the authentic one, you need to travel or ask friends in other countries.

Cuban Rum and Culture

Rum isn’t just a drink in Cuba; it’s a character in national culture. It appears in Benny Moré’s songs, in Guillermo Cabrera Infante’s novels, in paintings depicting Havana life.

Ernest Hemingway immortalized the daiquirí at El Floridita and the mojito at La Bodeguita del Medio. Fidel Castro gifted Havana Club to foreign dignitaries. Cuban rum is diplomacy, it’s music, it’s liquid history.

---

Do you have a favorite Cuban rum brand? A memory of a mojito in Havana? Tell us in the comments.

Related:

• Habanos: Complete Guide to Cuban Cigars