Image Courtesy of Havana Club.
The making of Cuban rum is a magical, complex process – a craftsmanship where every note of wood, time, and knowledge plays together, complements each other, and is balanced to create a fine, rich, and unique liquid. The finely tuned techniques of making Cuban rum have been passed down through generations to a select group of Maestro Roneros, the custodians of this tradition.
To celebrate the art of making rum and the Cuban culture, Havana Club just launched the new Icónica Collection which is comprised of three extra-aged rums, united in creation but unique in their very own characters and aromas. “Each rum in the Icónica Collection is crafted to perfection and is a testament to traditional rum-making techniques”, states Asbel Morales, el Maestro del Ron Cubano who is the key figure behind the Icónica Collection and carefully overwatches the blending and aging of each liquid at the brand’s distillery in San José de Las Lajas. For the Collection every rum undergoes a continuous ageing method during which the liquids are blended with some of the oldest and finest rums in Havana Club’s inventory – some of which were first laid down more than 60 years ago.
SLEEK had the chance to meet Asbel Morales in Paris where the Icónica Collection was officially presented for the first time. During an intimate and exclusive dinner at Villa Mandé in the 12th arrondissement of the pulsating capital, Havana Club managed to create an extraordinary experience that allowed the guests to immerse into the Cuban culture for one evening: While Cuban music was played, Asbel Morales opened the three rums of the Icónica Collection himself, for the guests to taste Havana Club’s new expressions:
Image Courtesy of Havana Club.
The first rum of the Collection is the Selección de Maestros. A liquid that is distinguished by a warm amber hue and a deep red glow. While tasting, a round mouthfeel leads to a flavourful, full-bodied palate of cocoa, coffee, sweet tobacco, and brown spices which is balanced through the smokey oak from the barrels and candied fruits.
The second rum is the Gran Reserva Añejo 15 Años which has aged for a minimum of 15 years. His scent is outstandingly rich, intense, and persistent and balances the delicate aromas of oak and smoke with subtle tones of fresh pear, coconut, and dried fruit while the taste imparts a silky opulence of dark chocolate, dried fruits, and a hint of vanilla.
But the true highlight of the collection is probably the Havana Club Máximo Extra Añejo – a rum with a deep amber glow, carefully crafted in the brand’s cellars. Through the extraordinary resting time combined with the Maestros del Ron’s mastery in selecting and blending the finest, it’s only possible to produce a thousand decanters a year, making the Icónica Máximo a real treasure for rum-connoisseurs.
Image Courtesy of Havana Club.
Image Courtesy of Havana Club.
To taste the Icónica Maximo, Morales ordered all other glasses to be taken away during the dinner in Paris. With an heartfelt speech about the Máximo, he opened the drop-shaped bottle and practiced the Cuban tradition of “Para los Santos” (engl. “For the saints”) – where the first few drops of the bottle are used to sanctify the floor. “Our rum”, he says “represents the colours of Cuba – it’s the blend of blends of different characters, aromas, and stories”.
Even the bottles were designed to pay tribute to the Cuban culture: While different lines on the Selección de Maestros and the Gran Reserva Añejo 15 Años represent the sunrays on Havana’s railings as well as traditional Cuban front doors and architecture, every bottle is embossed with the iconic Giraldilla – Havana’s patron and a symbol for resilience and grace.
At the end of the evening in Paris, the guests are reverently drinking their glasses of Icónica Máximo, reflecting the time and love that had born the liquid. And while the night ends and the cigars are finished, the Havana Club Icónica Collection is ready to present itself to the rest of the world.
Drink responsibly.