Premium rum hits bars and specialists

Cuban rum Havana Club has launched its latest premium offering into UK style bars and specialist off-trade outlets. Havana Club Cuban Barrel Proof was created by renowned ‘Maestro Ronero’ Don José Navarro and fits in with the growing trend for rum in general, and premium rums in particular.

Tthis is the first time the rum will be available in the UK even though it has been available in travel retail since 2004. It is aged for an average of 10 years and, unlike other rums, it is bottled directly from the special finishing barrel, "without any further blending, dilution or final touches," according to Don Navarro (pictured, right).

Navarro said that these special barrels have been treated in a natural way, but would not reveal the secret method. The rum is made using ancient blending techniques, and Don Navarro spent many years working on this particular blend.

"A premium rum should not be just surface quality, this is key, and it is a danger we can see developing in the rum world," he said. "A premium rum should be aged differently from a quality point of view, not just from time. The result is not only a question of how many years."

Cuban Barrel Proof is 45% ABV and available in 70cl bottles with an RRP of £35.99. It is being promoted as a perfect rum for short cocktails such as the Old Fashioned or the El Presidente, or as a sipping rum served neat or on the rocks.

Alexis Hercules 12/11/08