Introducing Ron Santiago de Cuba Rum
From the dedication of the ‘Maestros del Ron Cubano’ (Masters of Cuban Rum) comes an outstanding example of the Cuban Rum making tradition: Santiago de Cuba Rum.
Santiago de Cuba rum is aged in the Don Pancho warehouse, renowned as ‘the cathedral of Cuban rum’. Its unique location is so close to the train tracks that legend tells the barrels tremble when they pass, influencing the ageing process. The two Maestros – Tranquilino Polencia Estruch (aka Tano), and Julio Enrique Ayan Rial (aka Julio) – are particularly proud of the reserves of old barrels they use to create the unique liquid, some as old as 90 years. All of their rums undergo a natural ageing process as dictated by the Ron Cubano regulations.
What makes Ron Santiago de Cuba unique and recognizable from the minute you open a bottle is the incredibly rich, fruity aroma. The Rum Masters say its aroma is so unique that it gets picked up immediately in blind tasting and it is what identifies it (alongside the taste) as coming from the different part of the Island. Rum from the Oriente region (South East of Cuba) is naturally sweeter due to the influence of the terroir and intensity of the sun.
The process of blending, charcoal filtration of the liquid, together with the use of different types of casks to bring out subtle variations of flavour, forms the age-old expertise of the Cuban Rum Masters. With over 160 uninterrupted years of lineage, knowledge, skills and expertise in rum making that has been passed down through the generations of Maestros, Santiago de Cuba’s rum making tradition is unrivalled.
Oriente: The Cradle of Light Rum
100% of the sugarcane used in Santiago De Cuba rums comes from the Oriente. This region of Cuba, in the southeast of the island, has been known as the Cradle of Light Rum since 1862. Located between the mountains and the sea, this verdant land is an unsurpassed microclimate.
Here, the baking heat of the Caribbean sun, the humidity of the land and the sea perfectly entwine to create the optimum conditions for cultivating sugar cane, enriching the ageing process and bringing unique personality to the rum.
Cuban Rum: A Legacy of Excellence
Each country generally holds its own regulations regarding production. In Cuba, in addition to the general regulation for the production of rums, there are specific regulations for rums that carry the DOP. All Cuban Rum with DOP must be produced from Cuban sugarcane molasses, and it must all be column distilled to ensure a lighter style of rum.
Finally, there are strict ageing requirements that need to be followed. There are a minimum of two ageing stages, with specifications on temperature and size/type of barrel. After the initial blending and filtration stage, the resulting rum (considered to now have zero months of age) is blended with high proof distillate and re-barrelled for yet more ageing. The age declaration corresponds to the age of the youngest rum used in the blend.
Ron Santiago De Cuba 20-Year-Old Extra Añejo Gran Reserva
The 20-Year-Old Extra Añejo Gran Reserva is an excellent example of the Cuban Rum tradition. This is distilled history, a gift to the city of Santiago, the bottled magic of the Cuban Rum Masters (“Ron Maestros”). To honour their home, Ron Santiago De Cuba’s Maestros Tano and Julio crafted a special rum with a more musical soul than most harnessing the knowledge running through their veins, passed from generation to generation seamlessly since the 19th century.
The age statement represents the minimum age of every drop of liquid in the bottle. This means that for at least two decades, this luscious amber liquid has rested alongside some of the oldest reserves in Cuba. Soaking up the sounds of the city of Santiago de Cuba, it waits until ready to dance in every glass.
On the nose, you'll find an exquisite combination of fruit aromas from aging in white oak barrels. The taste offers a robust yet smooth experience with harmonious notes of coffee, cocoa, and chocolate. The bold flavour retains a semi-dry elegance with dark rich cacao-coffee notes and well-integrated oak for a long-lasting finish.
Explore the full Ron Santiago De Cuba Range
We invite you to celebrate life's finest moments with Ron Santiago de Cuba rum—where each bottle embodies the ultimate soul of Cuba. Whether you are looking for something to sip neat or to enjoy in a cocktail, discover the full range of Ron Santiago De Cuba below:
