Havana Club – A Journey Through the Soul of Cuba and the Craft of Rum
Havana Club Museum of Rum
There are places that feel like they exist outside of time. Havana is one of them.
The city, with its crumbling facades, vintage cars, and streets alive with music, breathes history and emotion. Recently, I was lucky enough to experience it all first-hand, invited by Havana Club to dive deep into Cuba’s rich rum-making tradition — and what unfolded was a journey through the very heart of Cuban culture. From the moment I arrived, it was clear that this trip was going to be more than just a tasting or a factory tour. It was an immersion — a way to understand that in Cuba, rum isn’t just a drink. It’s memory, it’s pride, and it’s the story of a nation distilled into liquid gold.
We started where all Cuban stories begin — in the cobblestone streets of Old Havana. Walking through the colorful colonial buildings, it felt as though every wall had a story to tell. Our guide spoke of pirates, poets, and revolutionaries, their spirits seemingly woven into the air.
Next, we visited the Havana Club Rum Museum, where the city’s history and the story of rum are inseparable. Wooden barrels lined the walls, and the scent of molasses and aging oak hung thick. I found myself tracing the legacy of those who came before — generations of Cubans perfecting the craft. And obviously, it wouldn’t have been an authentic Cuban experience without some impromptu salsa and mind-blowing vocals all while sipping canchánchara with a base of Havana Club Spiced.
The afternoon took us to Clandestina, a Cuban design collective tucked inside a cool, crumbling factory. Their slogan — “Actually, I’m in Havana” — felt like a wink to everyone who’s ever dreamed of escaping the ordinary. It was the perfect prelude to our evening: a rum-fueled Coco Taxi bar tour through some of the city’s most iconic haunts — La Bodeguita del Medio, El Floridita, and Sibarita Habana — each stop steeped in history and Hemingway legends.
We ended our first day at La Guarida, the famous paladar set inside a faded mansion. There, with Christian Barré, Havana Club’s CEO, we spoke about rum — not as a product, but as a heritage. As we toasted, the evening breeze carrying Havana’s sounds through the open windows, it felt like the perfect start.
Day Two took us to the San José Distillery, where the magic happens. This is where sugarcane, sun, and time come together. Meeting the Maestros del Ron Cubano was a moment of quiet reverence — these are the guardians of a tradition passed down over generations.
Asbel Morales
Among them stood Salomé Alemán Carrizo, the first female Maestra in Cuban rum history. Watching her, with her quiet confidence and deep knowledge, was one of the most powerful moments of the trip. In a field long dominated by men, Salomé’s presence is a tribute to change — a symbol of how Cuban rum, while rooted in tradition, is always looking forward. Salomé spoke of her journey, the years of training, the countless barrels tasted. “I didn’t choose to become a Maestra,” she said, “the rum-making tradition chose me.” And in that moment, you could feel it — the weight of the past, the pride of the present.
Maestros Group
Lunch that day was at Rodolfo’s farm. Beneath a sky so blue it looked surreal, we were served traditional Cuban dishes — roast pork, plantains, fresh guava. It was simple, honest food that tasted like home, even if it wasn’t ours.
That afternoon, we sipped cocktails at Casa Italia, an elegant boutique where Cuban charm met Italian flair. But it was at Casa Adela where our hearts were truly stolen — by the voices of the Cuban Vocal Quartet, singing a cappella. Their harmonies filled the air, weaving stories of love and loss, of Cuba’s joys and sorrows. We dined outdoors that night at Antojos, under a sky full of stars, with the music still echoing in our minds.
Day Three was all about art. We visited the homes and studios of some of Cuba’s most celebrated artists. Painter Vicente Hernández welcomed us into his dreamlike world of surreal Cuban landscapes. Sculptor José Villa Soberón, whose works dot Havana’s streets, spoke of capturing the Cuban soul in bronze. And then, the unforgettable visit to the home of Beatriz Márquez — a Cuban music icon. Sitting with her, listening to her play and sing, was like touching a piece of Cuba’s musical heritage. Later that night, we gathered at the private home of Pamela Ruiz and artist Damián Aquiles — a contemporary oasis in Vedado. Over cocktails on their stunning terrace, surrounded by art and laughter, it felt like we were living the Havana dream. It was that night that Havana Club indulged us in a guided tasting of its latest masterpiece: Tributo 2025, a rum unlike any other.
This year, they dared to do what no Cuban rum has done — finishing their blend in Redbreast Irish whiskey casks. The result? A rum that sings with layers of vanilla, dried fruit, and a gentle, almost haunting, sherry sweetness. Asbel Morales, the Maestro behind the collection, called it a “celebration of generations.” With just 2,967 bottles worldwide, it is as rare as it is extraordinary.
The night was nothing short of surprises. Our rum immersion was finally topped with a private unveiling of Havana Club Iconica Don Navarro’s new image — making it the perfect end to an experience so full of passion, tradition, and a profound commitment to Cuban heritage. The night ended at La Fábrica de Arte Cubano (FAC) — part club, part gallery, part everything. It’s Havana’s heartbeat.
Final Day: Time to slow down. At Playa Megano, we had a beach picnic — toes in the sand, rum in hand. The ocean stretched endlessly, the sky impossibly wide. There was nowhere else to be. We wrapped up at La Reserva, sharing tapas, toasting new friendships, and promising ourselves — and each other — that this wasn’t goodbye, just see you soon.
Closing Thought: What I learned in Havana is that Cuban rum is more than sugarcane and barrels. It is the land, the people, the music, and the stories. It is the proud smile of Salomé as she stands among the Maestros. It is the voice of Beatriz Márquez filling her living room. It is every sunset over the Malecón and every beat in FAC.
Havana Club’s Tributo 2025 is the perfect expression of this — a rum born of centuries of craftsmanship, elevated by a daring Irish twist. But more than that, it’s a reminder that in Cuba, everything — music, art, even rum — is made with heart. And when you sip it, you’re not just tasting a spirit. You’re tasting Cuba. Salud!
USEFUL LINKS
Havana Club Icónica Official Website & Instagram
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