Boat International - July 2018

http://www.boatinternational.com | July 2018

BOAT LIFE

PHOTOGRAPHY: GETTY IMAGES; SHUTTERSTOCK; HOLIDAY MAGAZINE

M

ixed in a mojito at Al Capone’s Prohibition-era

haunt Hotel Nacional or served as a frozen

daiquiri at Heming way’s favourite bar, El

Floridita, rum is an intrinsic part of Cuba’s culture and

heritage. But don’t just think summertime cocktails; a

long tradition of rare and super premium blends make it

the boat owner’s drink of choice too.

Of the 70-odd brands that can be found on the island,

“Havana Club is considered

the older brother of all

Cuban rum, and commands

a lot of respect”, explains

maestro ronero (master of

rum), Asbel Morales. A 50/50

venture between the Cuban

government and Pernod

Ricard, formed in 1993,

meant Havana Club became

the first Cuban rum brand to

be exported.

Morales speaks with authority: as one of only eightmaestros

roneros, he is one of the foremost experts in rum-making. Every

year, these chemists with at least 15 years’ experience in distilling

rum gather to select the barrels that will form the blends for Havana Club Selección de

Maestros – the entry point of Havana Club Icónica, a collection of the brand ’s most premium

rums. Morales also hand-picked the barrels of Iconica’s Tributo 2018, the first prestige rum to be

finished in smoky whisky casks (limited to 2,500 bottles worldwide).

Only the rarest and oldest reserves are used for the Máximo blend, the finestof Havana Club’s

rums. Limited to 1,000 50cl bottles each year, of which only about 600 areallowed outside Cuba,

Havana-sent

Cuban rum is the Caribbean

in a glass. Lucia Ferigutti

explores its rich traditions

Between 1946 and 1977, the American

magazineHolidaywasoneofthemost

prestigious travel publications in the

world, with contributors including

GrahamGreene,JoanDidionand

Jack Kerouac. After a hiatus of almost

four decades, it has been reinvented

by the Paris-based art director Franck

Durand. The revamped title has also

become one of the coolest new French

fashion labels under the name Holiday

Boileau. The aesthetic is always

light-hearted, with a summer colour

palette of ice cream shades of pink

andgranitalemonyellow–thelogo

T-shirts inspired by retro travel posters

are particular favourites. Everything

can be described as a casual travel

essential and perfect for tossing into

a suitcase for the most relaxed sunshine

break you can imagine.

holiday-magazine.com

thisisthehighlightofanycollection,andwhat

DonJoseNavarro,the“leader”ofthemasters,

comparesto“amasterpiecepaintingcreated

collectivelybyallthebestpaintersofanation

during an entire century”.

Nomatterhowprestigiousthenectar,

traditioniswhatit’sallabout.WhenMorales

opensafreshbottle,hefollowsacenturies-old

spiritualritualandpoursthefirstdropsonto

theground–para los Santos(for the saints).

Precious Máximo is no exception. Enjoy it

afterdinneraccompaniedbyaBehike54cigar,

andexperiencewhatlocalscallsobremesa:that

blissfulmomentofgatheringwithfriendsand

familyontheaftdeckattheendoftheday,

withaglassofrumandacigar,conversation

flowing.havana-club.com

One to watch

HOLIDAY

Havana Club

Máximo Extra

Añejo, £1,235

for 50cl,

thewhisky

exchange.com

Below left:

Asbel Morales

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