Post #424818 by tikibars on Thu, Dec 18, 2008 10:31 PM

The Barrel Proof is about as good as you're going to do.

Tried about a dozen Cuban rums in the past week, and there are some good ones, but the Barrel Proof is a notch or two above the rest (unless you can afford $150 for the Havana Club 15-year, or $1700 for the Havana Club Maximo!).

Veradero 7-year is not bad, and is cheaper than Havana Club 7-year. I spoke with someone at the Havana Club tour, and I confirmed that the Anejo Reserva is a 6-year. But I still like it better than their 7-year old, and it is generally half the price. The Gran Reserva is noticeably inferior; good for mixing only.

My very recent experience (um, I was in Havana yesterday!) is that HC rums are EVERYWHERE and all other brands are relatively scarce. Saw very few non-HC brands in Mexican duty free shops (or other shops), but a half-dozen or so non-HC brands in Havana airport duty-free.

Best rum selection at retail that I saw in all of Havana was, oddly, in the gift shop of a nightclub called Dos Gardenias in the Miramar area.

Bottom line is that if you want to have your freind keep muling in Cuban rums for you, get a few bottles each of Anejo Reserva, 7-year, and Barrel Proof, and you'll be well stocked.