Havana Club Añejo 3 años

Nose: Mild, sweet notes of coconut, brown sugar and tropical fruit. There is a trace of funkiness to the nose, but it’s fleeting. The alcohol is not intrusive. Palate: Sweet, light arrival with white and Demerara sugars. A very light fruity note in the mid palate (tropical fruit cocktail and citrus). I would hesitate to say it has any real “development” but there is also a distant funky quality in the mid palate. It’s nothing approaching that of a dark Jamaican rum, just a tinge, but enough to give the palate body and interest. The texture is creamy. Finish: Medium/short. Fruity sugars and distant herbal notes with a dot of vanilla. A smooth and refreshing white rum that has just enough character to make it interesting as a cocktail or mixed drink ingredient. It’s perfect for a daiquiri or mojito (Mrs Cascode loves this in a piňacolada) and I often enjoy it with orange and grapefruit juice over lots of ice on a hot summer afternoon. This and Plantation 3-star are my favourite white rums. We are fortunate in Australia that we have no trade embargo with Cuba so this and the other Havana Club rums are widely available at very good prices. “Above Average” : 81/100 (3 stars)

White, lightly aged, blanco or silver rums, whatever you want to call them are not typically rums that I drink neat, but I do have a good number of them, so I figured I would run thru 8 of them and see which one emerges the winner (between Angostura, Privateer, Havana Club, Cana Brava, Barbancourt, Flor de Cana, Banks 5 Island & El Dorado). Finishing second on the list, Havana Club (hopefully you weren't thinking the Bacardi version) is one of the most well-known white rums out there. I have seen many reviews that don't seem to like the white rum, except for in a daiquiri or a mojito, but I found it to be pretty solid neat and great in cocktails (long/short or stirred). The nose features pineapple and coconut. The palate is sweet, almost too much so, with hints of ginger, oak, citrus peel and an overall oily feel to it. The finish is pretty quick with a touch of pepper. The Barbancourt is a close third to this, but I did give this one the edge. It absolutely shines in cocktails and is a solid drink neat. The cost may be a bit higher than Barbancourt, but I think for the quality it's worth it.

I have a good friend who lives in Miami and owns a fairly prominent nightclub on Calle Ocho. I visit him frequently. He is from Cuba and is one of the nicest guys that I know. He also shares his private stock with me, and that includes cigars and this rum. Havana Club is not my favorite to drink straight (although a little oily, it is still quite good). When it is used in a mojito, Havana Club becomes a gift from the Gods! I have been traveling to Riviera Maya and Playa del Carmen a bit and I always bring a few bottles home.

A family friend aquired this from a friend who recently visted cuba as this is not available here in the US. Not a rum expert by any means and tried it neat. Not recommended lol! This was made primarily for cocktails such as mojitos and daiquiris. Ethanol on the nose. Cane sugar and herbal notes on the flavor. A tad synthetic aftertaste. I'm sure this would've been great in a mojito.

This bad boy is beating it's younger sibling out of market. And for good cause. the taste is floverly-sweet and it makes great Mojito, Daiquiri, Piňacolada and Cuba libre. And other coctails as well. and it is old enough to have it's own attitude to present, so drinking neat "young" rums is finally enjoyable (but mostly on the rocks). Essential for cocktail lovers.

Fairly smooth and sweet initially with caramelized banana/tropical fruit, fennel and pepper. The Distiller notes say it well. Considerably better than Bacardi Superior but also finishes and mixes a bit dry. It basically tastes like a white rum version of Appleton Estate. Mixes well but it can overpower other flavours in cocktails. $27 in Ontario.