Cuban rum doesn’t always face an easy situation: although it basically comes from a relatively strictly regulated rum country that produces according to reliable criteria, it often falls behind rums from Jamaica or those from long-closed distilleries in Trinidad in the perception of die-hard rum fans. Yet Cuban rum has a lot to offer! (provided test products)*
This is demonstrated, for example, by today’s bottle, which is being launched on the market by the independent German bottler Rum Artesanal. The bottle listens to the illustrious name Cuba Rum CADC Cask Finish 7 years. The rum in the attractive 0.5-liter bottle was made by an unnamed Cuban distillery. After five years in casks, it got a very interesting maturation (finish) in a cask of Venezuelan rum from Corporación Alcoholes del Caribe S.A. (CADC or sometimes abbreviated to CACSA). The promise behind this finish is above all to add a little more aroma to the usually rather light and floral characteristics of a Cuban rum.
The rum was finally bottled at an extremely promising abv of 59.6%.
Tasting notes:
Aroma: On the nose, the Cuba Rum CADC Cask Finish 7 Years is initially surprisingly fine and subtle, with vanilla, some caramel, coconut blossom sugar and light notes of fruit and cinnamon reminiscent of a compote (light plum or apricot).
Taste: here it shows some typical Cuban characteristics, but it is absolutely expressive in itself: the high abv of 59.6% turns out surprisingly mild, but conveys very well notes that would otherwise appear more as secondary or background tones. So, if you are looking for a rum in which vanilla, bright, exotic fruits, a light cocoa and spices play the main role and not the usually encountered supporting role, then the Cuba Rum CADC Cask Finish 7 Years is just right for you. Over time, more herbal notes come through.
Finish: the finish is surprisingly long with vanilla, cinnamon and oak
In addition to this rum, I also have the opportunity to take a look at a small tasting sample of the 17-year-old Trinidad T.D.L. Delias Tropical Rum from the so-called Cat Collection, which the publishing company Delias Whiskyshop GmbH kindly provided me with for review purposes. If you can see the bottle design in the picture below, you will also recognize the eponymous cat on the label. This is also a very powerful 60% vol. rum from Trinidad – from the T.D.L. Distillery (Trinidad Distillers Limited) to be precise. This rum, which was distilled in December 2006 and only recently bottled in June 2024, was allowed to mature for 17 years in a former bourbon cask. The first eight years were a tropical maturation. Incidentally, it was not colored, chill-filtered or sweetened (just like the Cuba Rum CADC Cask Finish 7 Years tasted above).
Tasting notes:
Aroma: The nose is full of rum power with brown sugar, caramel, dark fruits and a little coffee. There are also light oak notes, spices such as nutmeg and some cinnamon, followed by very fine lemon peel and associations of coconut.
Taste: The fact that this rum has not been sweetened is indeed an announcement, as it conveys a remarkable sweetness on the palate, which comes across with notes of coffee, dark chocolate and stewed dark fruits. Over time, the fruit notes lighten a little towards apricot or grape, with a touch of vanilla. The rum is absolutely drinkable and simply delicious. It makes you want to take the next sip, which then offers a certain depth and complexity of diffuse herbal notes and cereals. There’s a lot in the glass here, I really like it!
Finish: long with oak, spices and a heavy sweetness
With the Cuba Rum CADC Cask Finish 7 years, I also experimented a little with cocktails and ended up with a rather classic Old Fashioned-style drink. The special thing about this Rum Old Fashioned is the use of lemongrass syrup, which I made according to this recipe. In combination with a hint of falernum and some dry curacao, this Old Fashioned is surprisingly summery!
Recipe “Lemongrass Rum Old Fashioned”:
6 cl Cuba Rum CADC Cask Finish 7 years
1 cl lemongrass syrup (see above)
0.5 cl Dry Curacao
1 bar spoon of Falernum
Preparation: The drink is built in the glass. Pour all the ingredients into the glass on solid ice, stir, done!
Glass: S.O.F.
Garnish: Orange zest and a piece of lemongrass
Buying sources: The Cuba Rum CADC Cask Finish 7 years can be purchased online at Delias Whiskyshop, as can the Trinidad T.D.L. Delias Tropical Rum 17 years.
*The fact that these products have been sent to me free of charge for editorial purposes does not – in any way – imply any influence on the content of this article or my rating. On the contrary, it is always an indispensable condition for me to be able to review without any external influence.
