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Replaced a bottle of 3 star & got a bottle of ovd after reading good things, cheaper than another bottle of El Dorado 12 yo & if it’s anywhere as good it’ll do
I don't drink rum but I do recall being told in Cuba that they don't drink Havana Club and Ron Santiago was the Cuban rum of choice. That was quite a few years ago though.
So last night my hotel had Don Papa on the shelf.. so I gave it a try (just to see if all the bad reviews were deserved) and I can honestly say it was the most horrible spirit I have tried in a very long time! I had two sips and then threw it away!
“Life’s too short to drink bad wine or smoke poor cigars”
I don't drink rum but I do recall being told in Cuba that they don't drink Havana Club and Ron Santiago was the Cuban rum of choice. That was quite a few years ago though.
I haven’t been to Cuba for about 10 years, but it used to be that Havana Club was served in the Hotels to tourists and Santiago was what the locals drank. You had to specifically ask for Ron Santiago if you wanted it.
I like rum a lot. I keep a big selection in my office, especially Cuban rum. I have probably 40 different Cuban rums on hand. Here are my favourites.
Best daily drinker, Havana Club 7 year old. For Cubatas etc. My favorite was Ron Caney Añejo Centuria but that has largely disappeared. Rumours that it might be coming back. I saw pictures of it with an updated label at the FIHAV trade fair in Havana last October. Only pictures though.
Best easily available, Santiago 11 year old. Nice rum. 12 year old is actually fine too.
Runners up here, Pacto Navio, Havana Club Seleccion de Maestro. Eminente (the original white label, not the Reserva)
Best cheap aged rum. Perla del Norte Añejo and some of the Black Tears range. Very drinkable at under $10 a bottle in Cuba.
Best value 15 year old. Ron Mulata 15 year. Great rum at about the £80 mark, much cheaper and better than Havana Club 15 year old, which is normally close to £200.
Best rum. Havana Club Don Navarro. I think it might be limited. I got a bottle in Havana last February and three more last November. $125 in Havana, I think the UK price was £125 when available.
My personal law of diminishing returns for any brown spirit kicks in about the €80 mark. But the HC Don Navarro is worth every penny of £125. I've had some of the Cuban "big guns" (at tastings, not out of my own pocket), Havana Club Maximo, Isla de Tesoro, Santiago 500 etc. To the best of my recollection, the Don Navarro beat them all. The best rum I ever remember tasting, for me anyway.
For full disclosure, I find many other, non-Cuban, rums too sweet. Zacapa, Matusalem etc. Fine, but a bit too sweet for me. Some of the Flor de Canas I like.
Went from Jim Beam years & years ago to Bourbon (Bulleit is my go to) and have tried a couple of rums (Dead Mans Finger) but they've been too sweet really. Looking for something like the bourbon but fuller depth of flavour. Don't mind mixing with something like Pepsi Max, but would like to sip it too over ice. Diplomatico seems the one to try, but a bit out of my budget rn
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