Rum, Rum, Rum and the Havana Club Festival

New experiences with eight brands of Cuban rum and a visit to the Santa Cruz factory where Havana Club is made were two highlights of the First International Rum Festival concluding Wednesday in Havana.

The festival has been a forum for debate among producers, salespeople and connoisseurs, who examined distinct products as well as attending a trade fair and diverse demonstrations and tastings.

Eight rums: Santiago de Cuba, Cubay, Legendario, Arecha, Mulata, Santero, Varadero and Caney have been long nurtured by their producers and Cuban rum-making companies such as CubaRon, Union de Bebidas y Refrescos, Tecnoazucar and Cimex have entered the market with a vengeance, especially with European contracts, and intend to give world-leading Havana Club International a run for its money.

Havana Club still holds sway however, and festival-goers´ visit to Santa Cruz del Norte in eastern Cuba allowed them to appreciate the quality of the selection of molasses, distillation and aging of this renowned spirit.

At the festival news conference, it was learned that Cuba produces 43 million cartons of nine liter bottles of 93 types, but exports only the highest quality 2 million cartons.

To a press question, festival spokesmen pointed out that when Washington trade restrictions against Havana are lifted, exports could immediately double, as the United States represents 42 percent of the world market for premium rum, the only type Cuba exports.