Havana Club (PR) Anejo Blanco

I don't feel this is the swill some others say it is...when mixed it goes down easily, though I won't be buying it again.

Sampled at the Laka Lono Rum Club Tasting on 9/28/19. Pours clear. Almost no aroma. Tastes slightly better than isopropyl alcohol. Numbs the lips. Yuck. Does Bacardi intentionally make this swill to confuse people looking for real Havana Club?

I usually don’t like Blancos but this one is different. I tried this at house of blues and was surprised. My choices were this or Bacardi so I guess it was limited at that time but I was happy that this rum was pretty good.

On the Puerto Rican version on the nose I get Key Lime Pie, Vanilla, faint toasted Marshmallow, and a hint of ethanol. The alcohol note is light and does not diminish the other notes. The predominate note is Key Lime Pie with Merengue.

Taking a sip I get Key Lime Pie with Merengue, Vanilla, and a slightly more pronounced note of toasted Marshmallow. The palate here is sweeter, not from added sugar, but more along the lines of how Probitas has a sweet note.

The finish is straight Vanilla and Lime. Simple but fairly well pronounced and of medium length.

I am actually quite pleasantly surprised by the Bacardi Havana Club. I had read that it is a shell compared to the Cuban version; but that is not the case to my tastes. They are a bit different but I am pleasantly surprised by the Bacardi version. The Cuban version is fruitier and fuller, but the Puerto Rican version has a very nice harmony to it. No it’s not complex but it is far better than what I anticipated and have read about. The Puerto Rican version was designed for Mojitos and I am willing to bet that it will indeed make a killer Mojito. This compares right up there close to the Cuban version, maybe just slightly shy of it…but certainly not by much. At its price point of $15 per 750ml Bacardi Havana Club Añejo Blanco, is actually surprisingly a good buy.

*Update*

After mixing with this for a while, it hides too much in cocktails, which is not the case with Cuban Havana Club 3 Year. As usual Bacardi should go easier on the filtering and leave more character in the rum.

First experience with Havana Club. Was told if you’re making Mojitos you should go Havana Club. It was decent. Definitely better stuff out there. But I would try them again.

It's fine, not bad, not great, I wouldn't turn down a drink with it, but will probably try something else next time I buy a white rum.

Not a fan of white rums, this one is pretty good, a bit smoky in palate.

Not available in the Netherlands so when I saw it in the US I had to pick up a bottle. I'm not really a fan of white rums and this is a prime example why. Very low on taste, but even so, better than 'regular' Bacardi.

Not in love. Serves as a white rum if other options aren't readily available.

My first rhum agricole. Interesting taste that I’m still getting used to. Have seen comparisons to rum that rhum has a more “earthy” flavor to it. I would say that is accurate. Overall, not bad.