What better way to inspire new cocktail creations from the best bartenders than by inviting them to create a new range of rums?
The new Havana Club Professional Edition series is all about taking the original classic rum and inviting exceptional talent from the bartending community to create brand new expressions through unique collaborations with Havana Club’s Maestro del Ron Cubano, Asbel Morales.
The series has launched with not one, but two exciting expressions.
First, there’s Havana Club Professional Edition A, created in partnership with the Cuban Bartender Association. It’s a blend of three aged rums and a pure aguardiente, matured in ancient oak barrels, then filtered to retain character, while lightening colour and palate. The result is a full-bodied, intense Carta Blanca with the complexity of a dark rum and the mixability of a white rum.
Next is the Havana Club Professional Edition B, devised with renowned bartender Nick Strangeway, who explains the process of working with Havana Club Master of Cuban Rum, Asbel Morales. “Cocktails played a big part in the process. Making drinks allowed us to see the product’s potential. As a bartender you’re not normally using a product neat, you mix it and it’s part of the range of colours you’re painting with. In that sense it really brought something different to the category for bartenders to play with.”
They added a smoky note to a rich dark rum by finishing it in heavily peated Islay whisky barrels, creating an expression that’s beautifully smoky, yet rich and sweet, allowing bartenders to experiment with a totally new Cuban rum taste profile.
“COCKTAILS PLAYED A BIG PART IN THE PROCESS”
Two fascinating collaborations but the idea has only just begun, as Audrey Hands, Global Brand Ambassador at Havana Club International, explains. “The new range is limited to just 1,000 cases per expression, both offering bartenders innovative alternatives in the category while staying true to Cuban rum and its heritage. They also celebrate the bringing together of the expertise of one creator, the Master of Cuban Rum, and another, the cocktail bartender.”
While Havana Club Professional Editions A and B are available now, Audrey is already looking ahead to future collaborations.
“We’ve started working on the next Professional Editions with two incredible bartenders. You have my word, we’ll see two very different and exciting rums, so make sure you stay tuned to find out what they are!”
Bartenders should contact their local Pernod Ricard representative for further details of the Havana Club Professional Edition range.
Sweetheart
Ingredients
70ml Havana Club Professional Edition B
10ml apple molasses
Dash chocolate bitters
Method
Stir ingredients over ice, strain into a Rocks glass partly rimmed with malic acid, sugar and cacao.
Created by Nick Strangeway
TCL Partner
Please drink responsibly
This article originally appeared in The Cocktail Lovers Magazine, Issue 30.
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