Havana Club 7-Year

On my last international trip, I brought back 2 bottles of rum: Havana Club Selección [de Maestros], and Havana Club 7. The latter was a last-minute impulse buy at the duty-free, based on my impressions of having tried it earlier and being able to carry another bottle home. And let me tell you, I am so glad I got it.

At ~$40–50, Selección is a quality sipping rum and worth every penny. At ~$20, HC7 is a rum you can mix with every day without breaking the bank. Around the world it's just another rum; not bottom shelf, but nothing too special, either. But here in the US, I would argue, it is among the very best rum you can buy for the price (which, unfortunately, we still must do outside the US).

The nose hints at alcohol, but it's subtle. Woody and rummy. The flavor is rich—a dry expression of tobacco and oak, with a balanced burn. Yes, it is amazing in Coke, but it's also very good neat (perhaps with a cigar that's not too fancy). In cocktails, it's almost more like a super-dry Demerara (!) than a typical "Spanish-style gold" rum, which I tend to find lackluster, and offer a lighter, smoother, sweeter, more caramel/vanilla-forward flavor profile. HC7 is full-bodied, interesting, and (again) delicious. To each their own.

I may need to make a point to return with a bottle of this after every international trip...

8-, 7+

I'm trying to remember what is special about this one but nothing comes to my mind. I guess it's a fair value for the money.

Vanilla but still some bitterness in decent balance. I like this rum, wouldn't rave about it but still a reasonable choice.

It has a lot of taste but I'm not sure I like it. It's not that good straight up and there are better rums to mix with coke

Looking at the price point you may think it might be one of the cheaper sippers, but it's not.
It's just a heavy dark rum.
In a mix I can enjoy it, but it should be mixed in with something light and fruity to balance the strong taste of tabacco and leather out.
It's resonable with a coke but does not make you run into the kitchen to pour yourself a second glass.

It's little rough sipping it on its own coke is great with it and cigar smokers will love the drink with a nice Romeo y juilleta

This was my favourite rum when I was a completly new in world of rum. Now I can still enjoy it pure, but mostely use it in cocktails.

For the price
This little bottle is a very good mixer to be shared with friends
Thumbs up to this rum 👍👍

I had good expectations for this, and at first it doesn't taste any better than Captain Morgans. Hot with a cheap, mainstream rum profile. But let the ice melt and leave it for a while and its harshness becomes warmth. Still a smokey, leathery old number that's spent too long in the sun with skin to show for it, but pleasantly sippable once accepted.

Good rom, can also be sipped with some ice. However i would recommend it for mixing.