Havana Club Barrel Proof Rum (700ml)

Havana Club is one of the fastest growing spirit brands worldwide, growing steadily in double-digits for the past ten years. First aged in old white oak barrels, this novel release is then ‘finished’ in specially selected younger oak casks, a practice familiar in the world of whisky maturation where it’s referred to as the ‘Double Barrel’ method. These finishing casks breathe new life into the old rum, giving it character and added complexity according to the distiller, Maestro Ronero Don José Navarro.

The rum has performed particularly well on the show circuit. At the 2006 International Wine and Spirit Competition (IWSC), it won the prestigious ‘Gold Medal Best in Class’ award. This accolade followed a Gold medal rating from the Beverage Testing Institute in Chicago in 2004. Marc Beuve-Méry, General Manager for Havana Club International, comments, “We are delighted that such a prestigious judging panel substantiates our view. Awards of this type are crucial to successful international brands such as Havana Club as they highlight the product’s quality to consumers looking for guidance at point of purchase.” Bottled at 45% Alc./Vol.

Tasting note: Brilliant burnished copper colour. Intense aromas yield maple syrup, brown sugar, fried banana, vanilla and coffee confectionary notes with a mild spirit prickle. An intoxicating sniff. Entry is assertive, powerful and spice heavy combining semi sweet flavours of dried banana, liquorice allsorts and vanilla. Good balance, only thrown slightly off by the dramatic spice flourish. Long aftertaste of dried banana, coconut, vanilla and spice persisting. A full-throttle dark rum that will work well in citrus based cocktails where the spicy oak influence adds depth. 45% Alc./Vol.