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 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 choose to call them, are not typically spirits I drink straight, but I do have quite a few of them. So, I decided to go through eight of them and see which one came out on top (including Angostura, Privateer, Havana Club, Cana Brava, Barbancourt, Flor de Cana, Banks 5 Island, and El Dorado). Havana Club, coming in second on the list, is one of the most recognized white rums. While many reviews seem to dislike the white rum except for use in a daiquiri or mojito, I found it to be quite solid neat and excellent in cocktails (long/short or stirred). The aroma features pineapple and coconut. The palate is sweet, almost excessively so, with hints of ginger, oak, citrus peel, and an overall oily texture. The finish is quite quick with a touch of pepper. The Barbancourt is a close third to this one, but I gave the edge to Havana Club. It truly excels in cocktails and is a solid drink neat. The price might be slightly higher than Barbancourt, but I believe it's worth it for the quality.

I have a close friend who resides in Miami and owns a well-known nightclub there. I visit him often. He's from Cuba and is one of the kindest people I know. He also shares his personal collection with me, which includes cigars and this rum. Havana Club isn't my first choice for sipping neat (though it is quite good, with a slight oiliness). When used in a mojito, Havana Club is divine! I've been traveling to Riviera Maya and Playa del Carmen frequently and always bring back a few bottles.

A relative obtained this from an acquaintance who recently traveled to Cuba, as it's not available domestically. I'm not a rum connoisseur by any stretch and sampled it neat. I wouldn't recommend it! It's primarily intended for cocktails like mojitos and daiquiris. The nose has a strong alcohol presence. The flavor offers notes of cane sugar and botanicals. There's a slightly artificial lingering taste. I'm sure it would have been excellent in a mojito.

This one is outperforming its younger counterpart in the market. And for good reason. The taste is floral and sweet, and it makes a great Mojito, Daiquiri, Piña Colada, and Cuba Libre, as well as other cocktails. It's also aged enough to have its own distinct character, making drinking young rums neat finally enjoyable (though mostly on the rocks). Essential for cocktail enthusiasts.

Initially quite smooth and sweet with notes of caramelized banana/tropical fruit, fennel, and pepper. The distillery's descriptions are accurate. Significantly better than Bacardi Superior, but it also finishes and mixes a bit dry. It's essentially a white rum version of Appleton Estate. Mixes well, but it can dominate other flavors in drinks. $27 in Ontario.