Cuba is the world's leading producer of rum. It is here that sugarcane is grown on spacious plantations to produce this lovely drink. The appearance of rum dates back to the 17th century, after the import of sugar cane by the Canary Islands by Christopher Columbus. Thus began the era of the Cuban product.
What is Cuban rum ?
A strong drink with a tart aftertaste and a burning taste is called Cuban rum. It is characterized by a pronounced aroma and the presence of yellow with a slightly golden hue. Cubans get molasses from sugar cane, which they use for further production. It is diluted with water and a certain type of yeast is added. The resulting mash is distilled, resulting in rum alcohol. Alcohol must be diluted to 50% and poured into oak barrels in which it will be stored for at least 5 years. You should also maintain a temperature of 18-22 degrees Celsius for the implementation of biochemical processes. Rum alcohol is white. A shade of yellow will give it a barrel, which is also involved in the process of further fermentation. Brown sugar syrup will give rum a darker color. Also, white rum differs from dark in strength and taste. It has a light, faint aroma. Therefore, it is not recommended for use in the preparation of cocktails. A dark variety is suitable for them. It is intended for hot drinks, such as grog or punch.
Varieties of rum
Rum brands differ in shades, so it is divided into 4 categories:
- White rum. Labeled as white / light / silver / blanca / blanc. This category includes unrestrained varieties of rum. They are light and transparent.
- Golden rum. It is labeled golden / oro / amber / paille on the labels. Such a drink is usually aged for two years. To keep the golden color, it is poured unfiltered.
- Dark rum includes drinks quite thick and saturated. This consistency is achieved by double distillation and aging in charred barrels for more than three years. The labels indicate the words dark / black / negro.
- Aged rum is of high quality unlike other categories. Such a drink is aged in barrels for more than 5 years, but less than 12. In Cuba, this product is consumed either in pure form or with ice. Bottles are usually labeled premium aged / anejo / rhum vieux.
Bacardi rum
We describe the most popular and famous brands of rum. The most popular brand in the world is the Bacardi brand. Bacardi & Compania was founded in 1862 when the notorious Don Facundo was able to filter the resulting drink from impurities that gave a bitter taste. He passed the rum through a charcoal filter and then poured it into oak barrels. As a result, the drink became much tastier and more aromatic.
The symbol of Bacardi rum is a bat. It was her who invented the wife of Don Facundo for the better prosperity of the company. Today, the Bacardi brand is produced in Mexico (the opening of the factory was in 1931) and in Puerto Rico (opening in 1936). It is also kept in a barrel for several years, and then subjected to repeated filtration. Thanks to this cleaning, the product becomes transparent and acquires its characteristic softness. In Germany, Spain and Brazil, they are filling the finished drink.
Rum, the composition of which includes high-quality aged alcohol and water, has a strength of up to 40 degrees.
The famous Havana Club
Havana Club rum is a cult drink in Cuba. It was first released back in 1878. Its creator was Jose Arechabala. He opened a distillery on the Cuban coast, where he constantly improved the production technology of this product. Havana Club rum is made using the same technology as the rest. First, molasses is extracted from sugar cane, then distilled in cubes, and then barrels made only from oak are aged. Fans of this drink were Jean Paul Sartre, Gary Cooper, Marlene Dietrich and other celebrities.
In order to symbolically unite the two worlds, it was called rum. Havana with its night club life and unique Cuban roots most clearly reflect the greatness of the country. The symbolism is depicted on the label that is affixed to the bottle. Cuba even has its own legend about a rum drink. Havana reveres a girl who took her fiancé on a journey in search of a source of eternal youth. Suzhenny did not return from the trip, and the girl went down in history for centuries.
In 2009, he won a gold medal at the San Francisco World Spirits Awards. The rum of the Havana Club brand is especially popular in Russia. The price for it varies from 800 to 2500 rubles, which allows all segments of the population to try this legendary drink.
Guayabita del Pinar rum
Guayabita del Pinar brand products are made only in Cuba. It is the most unusual and unique drink. It is produced at the Bebidas Guayabita factory in Pinar del Rio. Here you can also visit a tour of the plant for the production of these products. This variety appeared during the colonization of Cuba. The method came about at the expense of tobacco collectors who froze during work and basked in this alcoholic drink. But then they came up with the addition of guava berries to achieve a milder taste and aroma. And already in the 19th century, production reached a special scale.
Guayabita del Pinar rum is divided into two types. Dry - has a traditional fortress of 40 degrees. While sweet has a strength of only 30 degrees, which allows you to drink the drink in its purest form.
Rum brand Palma Mulata
Palma Mulata Cuban rum is relatively young. The TechnoAzukar company was founded only in 1982. The company directs all its efforts on cane sugar products. It has 71 sugar factories, 14 rum producing enterprises, etc. They produce various varieties of rum under the brand name Palma Mulata with an aging of up to 5 years and an alcohol content of about 40 degrees. Rum "Palm Mulata" is one of the most popular brands in Cuba. In Russia, this brand began to be sold recently, after 1990. “Palm Mulata” is the best Cuban rum, the price of which varies from 1000 to 2000 rubles.
Rum brand Santero
Rum brand Santero includes all the vitality and freedom of Cuba. It combines the aroma and tart taste of a Cuban national drink. Basically, the rum of this brand is dark or gold, since they withstand it for more than 5 years. Thanks to long-term exposure, the drink has an original taste that goes well with various fruit juices and drinks. Great for creating unusual cocktails. In its pure form, you can also use this rum, but preferably with ice. Even on Russian shelves you can find Santero brand rum with an aging of more than 10 years and a fortress of 40 degrees.
Rum brand Legendario
This brand was created in Cuba, in Havana, in 1946. At first, rum was produced only for personal consumption when sold on the domestic market. Legendario brand rum is now being produced at 6 plants and distributed throughout the country. The company’s office itself is based in the Spanish city of Valencia.
Rum has an unrivaled flavor. Withstand it for more than five years, and the strength it turns out to be only about 35 degrees, which is slightly lower than that of a traditional drink. Rum is consumed in pure form and with ice. Also, this brand is well suited for the manufacture of a variety of cocktails that will preserve the sophisticated taste of this wonderful drink.
Cuban Rum Cocktails
Cuban rum is a pretty strong drink. Some varieties have a tart aftertaste and alcohol aftertaste. Therefore, it is often used to make a variety of cocktails, which are much simpler and easier to use. Let's look at a few cocktails that use only rum.
The composition of cocktails can be varied and include several alcoholic ingredients.
Cocktail "Pina Colada"
For this cocktail you will need light rum. It is taken in an amount of 30 ml and the same amount of coconut milk is added to it. Then mixed with pineapple juice in an amount of 90 ml. You can add ice cubes to the resulting cocktail.
Mojito
It will also require light rum. First, a few leaves of mint, 30 ml of lemon juice and a tablespoon of cane sugar are ground in a mortar. Transfer the mixture to a glass of ice and add 40 ml of rum with a glass of sparkling water.
Planter Cocktail
Using a shaker, mix 40 ml of only dark rum, 20 ml of lemon juice and 30 ml of orange juice. Pour the resulting cocktail into a glass with ice.
Cocktail "Gimlet"
Make it very simple. Using a shaker, mix 40 ml of exclusively dark rum and 20 ml of lemon syrup. Pour into cocktail glasses and squeeze a slice of lemon. And you can enjoy the unique taste of a simple cocktail.
Cocktail Cuba Libre
First, squeeze lime juice into a cocktail glass and lay the remaining peel on the bottom. Two-thirds of the glass is spread in ice cubes. After pouring 60 ml of white rum and 100-150 ml of cold Coca-Cola. The amount of soda depends on the taste. If you want to get a stronger drink, then Coca-Cola can be used even in smaller volumes.
Real Cuban Rum Reviews
On the Internet you can find a lot of reviews about this drink. Particularly interesting messages are left by tourists who have tried Cuban rum in their historical homeland. Reviews describe all the sensations after the tasting. Consumers pass on their delight after taking a wonderful drink. Many, having tried once the Cuban rum, still do not change their tastes.
You can also find numerous responses, overwhelmingly positive, about the specific types and brands of the product. You can easily decide on them and decide on the first tasting. Therefore, if you have not tried this inspirational drink, then you should not wait for better times. Cuban rum is suitable for true connoisseurs of the taste of unique drinks. Read the various reviews and opinions and determine for yourself what kind you would dare to taste in the first place. Cuban rum has not left anyone indifferent, so get ready for real pleasure.