Havana Club Seleccion de Maestros 45%

Wine information: Havana Club is the second largest international rum brand worldwide. Cuba has a long tradition of rum-making. It dates way back to 1493, when Christopher Columbus introduced sugar cane to the island. The crop flourished in the favourable climate and fertile soil. Havana Club is produced according to careful Cuban tradition from sugar cane of the highest quality. After fermentation of the molasses, called mieles in Cuba (literally honey), an extremely slow distillation process in columns especially designed for Havana Club produces a powerful and aromatic liquor known as aguardiente. This young liquor is aged in white oak casks and then blended with fresh sugarcane distillate to produce ron fresco (fresh rum) which is then successively aged and blended again several times until the maestros roneros (master blenders) are satisfied. The choice of barrels is crucial, as the wood gives colour, aroma and complexity to the liquor. The entire range of Havana Club is aged naturally, with no artificial acceleration – the best guarantee of excellent quality. After ageing, each cask of rum is verified, and tasted by the maestros roneros with passion, patience and precision to ensure the quality of the ageing and blending processes. Around 15 years of training are necessary to become a true maestro ronero – the time it takes to learn the traditional skills of rum-making from the previous generation. Havana Club Selección de Maestros represents the ultimate and most perfected expression of the collective involvement of six experienced Maestros Roneros, led by the talented Don Jose Navarro. In order to create “Selección de Maestros", the Maestros Roneros select together the finest aged rums that one by one had been put aside for their truly exceptional quality. Afterwards, these prestige hand picked rums are blended, then put to age again in specially selected barrels, each chosen for the powerful, aromatic potential of the wood, in which they will develop their character and intensity. At the end of this final stage in the ageing process, the Maestros Roneros get together to select the rums that will compose the final blend, which will be bottled straight from the barrel at 45% proof. This unique finishing process, the “Cuban Barrel Proof", gives the rum its unequalled aromatic bouquet and an exceptional quality. There are no rules for rums regarding age statements. As an indication, the average age of rums contained in Seleccion de Maestros is approximately 10 years.

Tasting Notes: Havana Club Selección de Maestros has a warm amber hue, with a deep, red glow. It has a light nose of toasted pecan and spice aromas that reveals its robust origins with tobacco aromas and the presence of wood character. On the palate a round and buoyant entry leads to a complex, flavorful, full-bodied palate of cocoa, coffee, sweet tobacco and brown spices. Pleasant smoky oak and spice finish blended with candied fruits, to give the experience a remarkable balance.

Food & Spirit match: Havana Club Selección de Maestros is best enjoyed by rum connoisseurs as a slow-sipping rum, neat or on the rocks.

 
     

Enter your e-mail address and click the button to opt into the Fareham Wine Cellar mailing list: