Havana Club 7 Años creates a Rumaissance
Rum has come a long way over the last 500 years. For centuries, rum has a bad reputation and branded as the hooligan of spirits. Now, growing in popularity it is fast showing its appeal to sippers world-wide.
Craft beer and artisan gin are having to make way for the latest spirit to set a global trend as the sweet nectar born from Cuba is being rehabilitated, respected and seeing a revolution. Or as us connoisseurs like to call it; a “rumaissance“.
Maelia Gellusseau, rum ambassador for Havana Club explains what to look for, how to drink it and what to pair it with.
“Like wine grapes, the sugar cane growing climate has a knack for coaxing out rich flavours and fragrances and like wine, Cognac and Whisk(e)y, fine rum is also barrel aged.
Rum which is aged is more complex and sipped (slowly) or used in a cocktail where you will not lose the aging process for example a Cancha cocktail for example).”
“To start off you need a great tasting premium rum,” she says. “Setting itself apart, Havana Club 7 Años is the original Cuban sipping rum. It uses a unique aging process. Each of the final batches of Havana 7 is put back into the barrel to age. It is then used in a future production. Doint this creates a great complexity which makes a premium Cuban sipping rum. A true exploration of flavours.”
“Unlike whisk(e)y or Cognac, each rum producing region has different laws when it comes to aging, however, Cuban rum law states that the age of the bottle needs to reflect the youngest drop used in that blend,” she adds. “What this means is the year displayed on the label is the youngest age of rum in the blend.
Did you know it takes more than 14 years to craft a bottle of Havana Club 7 Años? Unlike most rums which gets mixed (aka the infamous rum and coke) this particular rum is made to be relished and is best served neat, on ice or with a twist.
“Choosing the right glassware is important (just the same as wine) – a snifter or tumbler works best!”
The same as Whisk(e)y or Cognac you apply the same tasting rules to rum. If you are new to tasting here is 5 basic steps to get you going:
Look at its colour:
Havana Club 7 Años has a rich and clear mahogany colour. Rich colour means a richer and more intense flavor. It is best you enjoy this rum on the rocks.
Savour the aroma:
Havana Club 7 Años has an outstanding breadth of aromas with intense and complex notes of cocoa, vanilla, cedar, sweet tobacco and lush tropical fruits.
Sip it slowly:
Havana Club 7 Años is an exceptionally smooth rum, with a balanced yet complex palate so sipping it slowly will bring out the intense yet round and smooth finish.
How to drink Havana Club 7 Años:
Havana Club 7 Años is a full-flavoured, rich and sophisticated Cuban rum with a high degree of elegance and class. It best you serve it neat, on the rocks or with a twist of orange peel or lime.
Or Try it in an authentic sipping cocktail like the Canchanchara:
It’s all about celebration, so don some vibrant colours, put on some Salsa tunes and treat friends to a little taste of Cuba – with this rum cocktail – perfectly paired with a hot summer night.
A predecessor of the Daiquiri and a close brother of the Navy Grog, the Canchanchara might very well be the essence of the Cuban cocktail. It has its roots in the fight for independence and is a drink that would have been a quick fix to any ailments suffered in the sugarcane fields, says Gellusseau. Having a Canchanchara is not only a great cocktail, but a taste of Cuban history.
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It’s all about celebration, so don some vibrant colours, put on some Salsa tunes and treat friends to a little taste of Cuba – with this rum cocktail – perfectly paired with a hot summer night.
A predecessor of the Daiquiri and a close brother of the Navy Grog, the Canchanchara might very well be the essence of the Cuban cocktail. It has its roots in the fight for independence and is a drink that would have been a quick fix to any ailments suffered in the sugarcane fields.
Having a Canchanchara is not only a great cocktail, but a taste of Cuban history.
Save RecipeIngredients
- 50 ml Havana Club 7
- 25 ml Fresh lime juice
- 25 ml Liquid honey water (2:1 mix - 500ml Honey : 250ml Hot water)
Instructions
- In a low glass dilute 25ml of fresh lime juice and 25ml honey water (dilution is a 2:1 ratio of honey to hot water).
- Add the 50ml Havana Club 7 and stir all ingredients over ice cubes.
- Garnish with a lime wedge.
- For a taller option called the ‘Cancha’ top with sparkling water for a refreshing summer drink.
- Salud!
Notes
Drink Responsibly
**Images and information provided by Tincan