Cuban Rum

Lovers of great sensations can never resist the pleasure of smoking a first class Habano accompanied by a drink of good Cuban rum. It's practically a modern ritual, a truly Cuban event.

Rum is a drink of contrasts, hence the mingling with cigars and Creole coffee. Its strong and earthy ethyl vapour is immediately dispersed by the sweet memories of its original raw material (sugarcane) and the palate is enriched or, better said complemented, with a good cigar smoke.

An emblematic liquor for parties, presents, and important anniversaries, rum is a classic accompaniment for dancing. African slaves even propitiated their deities with drinks of aguardiente (an ancestor of rum), while sailors forgot their problems or cheered their souls with this same product.

Tradition, constant sampling, refining, and mixing account for rum's great popularity. Rum types range from light, with 45 to 55 percent alcohol, to very dark, with between 48 and 58 percent. Cuba and Puerto Rico lead among light rum producers while Jamaica and the Lesser Antilles traditionally produce the...