Havana Club Maximo

[RumBarPhilly]

Has anybody tried this rum? I see it available online for more than twice the price of Pyrat Cask, the bottle's beautiful and the rum has got a gorgeous reddish amber color.

Now that Ive finally got a bottle of Pyrat Cask for my personal collection, this is my new holy grail. Any info regarding it, or ways of smuggling one into the US? Or countries where you can buy it, as my mom travels non-stop, her next excursion to australia, NZ, fiji, and tahiti.

[Count Silvio]

Over a thousand euros a bottle and over 200 dollars a shot at some places, I don't think so. You can buy it from a german netshop (http://www.spirituosen-superbillig.com/s01.php?shopid=s01&sp=en&cur=eur&ag=1&pp=aa&bnr=1082) if you have that kind of money. You can also get it from Specialty Drinks (http://www.specialitydrinks.com/ProductDetail.aspx?c=203&p=4486) in the UK. I don't think you have much chance finding specialities or much about anything from Australia, their selection is as scarce as ours.

I don't think this bottle is worth the price, the 15 year Havana Club is already way overpriced. Besides its only 0,5 liters... If I won the lottery this would be the first rum in my list.

[Don Piero]

I've been told its $1,000US in Cuba. I'll be in Cuba in March, but only to look and maybe touch :D the bottle.

[Don Piero]

Here is a quasi review. http://www.rumpundit.net/?p=16

[Don Piero]

I heard it was $1,000US in Cuba. I'll be in Cuba in March. I'll look and possibly touch the bottle:), but I won't be buying.

[Goslings]

I was in Cuba in September and it was 1,600 convertible pesos. Equal to US dollars. The LCBO in Ontario had 8 bottles selling for $2,000 CDN early Fall. Expensive stuff. Think the hand crafted bottled is jacking up the price.

[RumBarPhilly]

Here is a quasi review. http://www.rumpundit.net/?p=16

Very interesting stuff. I guess, should I too win the lottery, Ill pick up a bottle. But for now, the holy grail remains out there, haha.

[Jesus M]

In Mexico the price is about usd$1600.00 Last week in was in te wine section of some department store and for some inexplicable reason it was 60% off. I couldn't believe it and I bought a bottle immediately! As far as I know there are not so many bottles left in the market!

[Count Silvio]

There is a certain amount of these bottles produced every year. 60% off? I'm sure that was a mistake!

[El Phadrino]

"Don't believe the hype" is all I can say ;)
Ok, I haven't tried it yet but I can't imagine any rum beeing worth so much money. I think the Gran Reserva 15 yo is already too expensive so I don't think this one is really worth my hard earned money.

Did anyone in here try it yet?

[Ben]

If you base your evaluation solely on the taste, I would say no single rum is worth that price. But in this case obviously the price is driven by the rarity of the product.

That being said I would not pay that much for a rum and I agree with you on the 15yrs as well. Better rums are available at less than that price.

[Demomonkey]

Quality is an arithmetic progression. Price is an exponential one.

[Jesus M]

I thouhgt the same Silvio, that it was a mistake, but the salesman told me that the store system modify the prices of some products after they have been in the store for a long time to make a sale for some weekend. That was what happened, the salesman said: if you want the bottle buy it today, because next week it will be in the regular price!

[Paulipbartender]

I've tried it several times. Don't believe the hype, I can think of a 100 rums that are far superior.

Fact is you can't heavily age light Spanish style rums and the price is set because of the rarity of the product as well as a marketing invention.

Tatu - next time you're in town we'll get stuck into Trailer's bottle. Soon come...

[RonJames]

Fact is you can't heavily age light Spanish style rums

I totally agree with you Paul. I love spanish rums but the ability of the blender to pull together the right rums is in knowing when a rum has peaked in the barrel.

[Jesus M]

What do you mean by Spanish Rum?

[Paulipbartender]

Sorry - I meant Spanish as a catch all for the light style, column still rums that predominate the Spanish speaking Caribbean.

I understand light rums react more aggressively with the barrel than higher ester rums, which is why you don't see heavily aged column still rums but you will find heavily aged Jamaican or Guyanese for example

[Count Silvio]

I've tried it several times. Don't believe the hype, I can think of a 100 rums that are far superior.

Fact is you can't heavily age light Spanish style rums and the price is set because of the rarity of the product as well as a marketing invention.

Tatu - next time you're in town we'll get stuck into Trailer's bottle. Soon come...

You've got a deal Paul. I was going to come for the Tot launch but decided it would be too much traveling (for the wallet) if I come as I have to go to the Sydney barshow in September and then to London via Finland again.

[Matusalem]

Sorry - I meant Spanish as a catch all for the light style, column still rums that predominate the Spanish speaking Caribbean.

I understand light rums react more aggressively with the barrel than higher ester rums, which is why you don't see heavily aged column still rums but you will find heavily aged Jamaican or Guyanese for examplePauli...

Sorry to create a "jack", but this is an interesting point you have introduced. One that I have contemplated before. Limited take of course, but I think you are dead on in theory or at least in examples of present production available.

I do think lighter styled Spanish (as a generic reference) rums COULD in fact be aged longer, but to do so with good success might require higher priced grades of, or better used wood to begin with. A question that comes to mind is does anyone with an opinion think that the cost of wood / barrels / casks (that might yield better long term results) plays into it?

An example that comes to mind, given their described barrel regiment (i.e. use of sherry casks), I'd be very curious to taste Dimplomatico rum at 18 or more years of age.

[Paulipbartender]

I've been told by numerous distillers and blenders that this is the case - and I can't think of any examples which disprove the rule. I admit though, I still haven't quite processed the science behind why low ester rums react more aggressively with the wood..

I'd guess you could age a Diplomatico heavily - Though coming from a 'Spanish' country, I would define Diplo as an Anglo style, pot still biased rum.

[Matusalem]

I admit though, I still haven't quite processed the science behind why low ester rums react more aggressively with the wood. Well this makes sense to some degree. If the spirits influence is lighter than the barrel's ~ the barrel will win the contest of taste & influence over time. Which, speaks to my speculation perhaps the aging could be extended if the right wood is used.

Rum WAS thankyou.gif a fairly cheap product (compared to say single malts). I also believe most of the locations we're referring to tread below the "economic power" line as a whole. In many regards it makes sense that they'd keep production cost at the barest minimums & keep emphasis on gaining profit sooner than later etc. - Which, I believe the cycle itself is less likely to support "longer term" aging.

I don't know for sure, but as a result, my point was I'd guess barrel and wood regiment selections are less likely to be geared toward extra long aging anyway. Another thing to keep in mind is many examples of long aged spirit are the results of inability to sell the spirit before reaching such ages. Look at the current American whiskey market.

[RiverWest]

I just got back last Sunday from Cuba and saw a Bottle of Maximo Rum for 1700 cuc at the airport Duty Free. That is about $1900.
FYI Americans go to Cuba all the time thru a third country. They welcome you with open arms.party2.gif

[Edward Hamilton]

Welcome to the forums RiverWest. Thanks for the information, please take a few minutes and introduce yourself in the Introduction (http://www.ministryofrum.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=3) section of the forums.

[DJ Mal]

I have friends here who go to Cuba twice a year. They love it. Everytime I try to go with them something comes up and I can't go. My understanding is we have an economic embargo with Cuba, meaning, we can go there but we can't spend any money. If you pay all your money to a Canadian travel agent and they then pay for everything, you have not broken any laws by going there. One of my friends did get a letter from the State Department asking him about his trip to Cuba. His lawyer told him not to answer it, as answers lead to more questions. He threw it away and never heard from them again.

[Rumlover84]

What store was that? I saw it at "La Europea" when I went on vacation to Cancun and it was definitely out of my range, but I would definitely buy it if it was 60% off.