Variety is the spice of life.
That’s why we love rum. White, light, gold, dark, spiced – there’s just so much on offer, it’s enough to overwhelm even the most brazen rum aficionado.
But it’s not just the sheer range of choice that’s astounding. Every rum can be also be enjoyed in a number of exciting different ways, each one revealing more about the rum’s flavour.
To prove it, we decided to pick one of our favourite rums, Havana Club 7 Year Old, to show you just how many ways you can enjoy a bottle of good rum.
Neat
Havana Club 7 Year Old is a full-bodied, rich and sophisticated rum with a lot to offer your senses. Many will argue the only way to truly savour the depth of flavour is to sip it neat, at room temperature.
This way, you’ll be fully exposed to its rich aroma and taste without any distractions.
For the purist rum-lover, this really is the only way to enjoy a good, high-quality rum.
On the rocks
This is the option for those who need a little distance from the strong rum flavour in order to fully appreciate it.
As the ice melts, it will dilute the rum slightly and offer your taste buds a slightly less intense, but faithful experience of the flavours on offer.
Old Fashioned
A true rum purist might grimace at the thought of this classic cocktail, but for someone looking to start tasting rums up close without a mixer, this is an ideal entry point.
All you need to do is add a splash of water, angostura bitters and a spoonful of sugar to your neat rum serving.
It’s an exciting way to introduce your taste buds to the heat and intensity of a neat rum without scaring you away.
With a mixer
On its own, Havana Club 7 Year Old is spectacular. But sometimes, adding the right mixer can bring out a new side to a rum you’d never have noticed otherwise.
For example – grab yourself a glass of ginger beer and mix in a double measure of Havana Club. The sweet vanilla and toasty oak flavours of the rum are a perfect match for the warming spice of the ginger beer.
Experiment yourself, and see which mixer you prefer!
In a cocktail
Now, here’s where it takes a bit of an expert to get it right.
There’s so much going on in a cocktail, you might assume you can mix in any old rum and it won’t really make much of a difference. While there might be a glimmer of truth in this when it comes to rum brands, when it comes to categories of rum, such as white, golden or spiced, there’s some artistry involved.
To get the most out of a cocktail, it takes an expert to know which set of ingredients will work best with each specific rum.
Knowledge, expertise and skill. That’s how you end up with a premium cocktail experience.
Now you know how to get the most out of your bottle, we hope we’ve inspired you to take your first step towards becoming a true rum aficionado.
But if you don’t know where to start? Reserve a table and take a seat. Our Cantineros will take you through our entire rum list, until you’re a total *hic* tasting *hic* expert. Enjoy!
