Top 12 prestigious Cuban Rum brands

Cuban rums are the result of more than two centuries of tradition and a unique distillation process that gives them their smooth and distinctive flavor. Today we invite you to an exciting tour of the 12 best rums that our Caribbean island has to offer. From iconic brands that have stood the test of time to lesser-known gems that are gaining international recognition, you'll discover why Cuban rum is so loved around the world.

1. Santiago de Cuba Rum

It is manufactured in Santiago de Cuba, recognized as the birthplace of light rum since 1862. This rum is a magical synergy between the history and traditions of Cuban Rum and a new generation of rum makers. It is aged only in white oak barrels, in the Don Pancho winery, known as "the cathedral of Cuban rum." For more than 8 generations, the Masters of Cuban Rum from the city of Santiago de Cuba have followed their tradition and experience to create a rum with rhythm and soul that dances in the glass. It is presented as Carta Blanca, Extra Dry, Añejo, Añejo Superior 11 Years, Extra Añejo 12 Years, 20 Years and 25 Years.

2. Havana Club Rum

The best-known Cuban rum in the world, its development has personified the heritage and supremacy of the Cuban rum tradition. It is marketed in more than 125 countries. It is manufactured in Santa Cruz del Norte, Mayabeque. During your visit to the historic center of Havana you can visit the Havana Club Rum Museum, which recently in 2022 received the well-known “Oscar of tourism”, the World Travel Awards (WTA 2022) in the category of best distillery tour in the world. of rum It is presented as Añejo Blanco, Añejo 3 Años, Añejo Especial, Añejo Reserva, Añejo 7 Años, Cuban Barrel Proof, San Cristóbal de La Habana – Ron Añejo Solera, Gran Añejo 15 Años and Máximo – Ron Extra Añejo.

3. Mulata Rum

It is manufactured in Villa Clara with sugar cane rigorously selected to obtain the highest quality molasses and applying centuries-old recipes. It is aged in oak barrels for years, to the delight of the most exquisite palates. This authentic, noble, strong and sensual rum is inspired by the legend of Ochum, the Venus of Yoruba mythology, patron saint of Cuba. It is presented as Carta Blanca, Añejo Blanco, Añejo, Añejo Reserva, Palma Superior and Elixir.

4. Legendario Rum

The bottle of Ron Legendario expresses the signs of identity of Cuba. It has a slender and graceful shape like the Royal Palm, the National Tree of Cuba. With its unmistakable lines it pays tribute to the silhouette of the Cuban woman. The shape of the label is another Cuban attribute, easily recognizable, since it has been created in the shape of a cigar habano vitola, an attractive and unmatched design. For its production, old methods and American oak barrels are used, as well as silica sand or double-bottom filtration of the tanks. It has several production lines: Carta Blanca Superior, Añejo Blanco, Dorado, Añejo, Gran Reserva 15 Años and the sweet Elixir de Cuba.

5. Arecha Rum

Made in Pinar del Río, it has transcended time for its texture, flavor and purity of its origins. It is an emblem of the traditional Cuban rum industry, with knowledge transmitted for more than 80 years by the master rum makers. It survives to this day as one of the best brands of Cuban rum. It is presented as Carta Blanca, Carta Oro, Añejo, Reserva, Añejo 15 Años and Elixir.

6. Perla del Norte Rum

From Cárdenas in Matanzas, comes this rum that distinguishes this region in the production of authentic Cuban light rum. Its name refers to its coloration and its similarity to the gold of the sun and the sands of the well-known Varadero beach. It is made with the use of a unique technology from aged spirits and bases, in different stages of mixing and aging in American white oak barrels of various types and uses. It is presented as Carta Blanca, Añejo and Carta Oro.

7. Cubay Rum

A brand that identifies the rum from Santo Domingo, a town in Villa Clara and knows how to express the typical flavor of the center of the Island. Bottled only at origin, it is presented in various formats: Carta Blanca, Carta Dorada, Añejo Suave, Añejo and Añejo Superior 10 Years. It also has a wide variety of liqueurs: Coffee, Cocoa, Blue Curacao, Grenadine, Maraschino, Mint, Pineapple, Banana, Triple Sec, Anise, Lemon and Coconut. Cubay is a white rum that combines its typical lightness and smoothness, but at the same time is reminiscent of very long-lived rums. With a soft, fruity aroma, it does not irritate when inhaled deeply despite its 40 degrees of alcohol.

8. Guayabita del Pinar Rum

This delight comes to the palate from the Pinar del Río region. It has two versions, a dry one, like rum, and a sweet one, like liqueur. This product is made with the alcohol of a small guava. The particularity is that this guayabita measures 2 cm in diameter and is harvested in the mountains. Their bottles contain one or two of these guayabitas inside, which provide that delicious sweet and pleasant flavor.

9. Caney Rum

It is one of the oldest and most traditional rums in Cuba. Made in Santiago de Cuba, its name pays tribute to the house of the ancient primitive Indians who called their homes that way. This product is made from mixtures of alcohols produced by the fermentation and distillation of honey and sugar cane derivatives, subsequently aged naturally in white oak barrels, over 70 years old, for a time that corresponds to the different types of rum. Combining tradition with modern technology and under a unique climate, the drink matures for several years in these barrels without the addition of coloring and flavoring. It is presented as Blanco, Carta Blanca, 12 Years, Oro Ligero and Añejo Centuria.

10. Isla del Tesoro Rum

Made in Santiago de Cuba, it is a rum that is strong in spirit, but smooth to smell and taste. It evokes the liquor that the corsairs and pirates who arrived in Cuba, the so-called Treasure Island, pursued during the 16th and 18th centuries, and that constituted another part of the loot looted in the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico. Until its presentation it brings history, it is a reminder of the treasures stolen in the attacks of privateers and pirates. The bottle alludes to those who were thrown into the sea with a letter inside and its placement in sand inside the chest represents the arrival of that message on a beach.

11. Edmundo Dantes Rum

It is a luxury Cuban rum, manufactured in Santiago de Cuba. Known as the rum of the Count of Monte Cristo, it honors the protagonist of the famous novel by Alexandre Dumas. Its golden color and the slight touch of vanilla in its flavor make it the most exclusive Cuban rum in the world. It is presented as 15 Years and 25 Years of aging. The bottle of the latter is hand decorated with 24 carat gold.

12. El Valle Rum

This new brand is manufactured in Pinar del Río using the Galician solera as aging technology, it is the oldest in the world. The new line maintains the traditions of quality, flavor and smell that have prestige Cuban light rums for more than 150 years. Its name is inspired by the natural environment of Pinar del Río: its tobacco plantations and the rivers that cross it and, especially, the Viñales Valley. It comes as Carta Blanca, Dorado and Elixir.

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It is important to note that the production and export of Cuban rum may be subject to restrictions due to international sanctions and trade regulations, so it is important to check current laws and regulations before purchasing or importing Cuban rum into your country.

We invite you to delve into the Cuban culinary universe so that you can learn first-hand why Cuban gastronomy is one of the best in the world.

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