Havana Club Anejo Especial

HC Especial differs from HC 3 años and HC 7 años with the absence of typical Sugarcane taste.
It is a Solid cuban rum but some how without any charachter.

Priemerný rum, ničím neprekvapí ani nesklame. Avšak za 15 EUR by som si vedel vybrať lepšie.

This surprised me. A very good sipper. Not complex, a little thin, but very smooth and flavorful. A nice finish. Bite with balance. A lot going for it.

Its Monday, Havana Club Pandemic Rum, not too sweet, not too strong, good but very alcoholic ...as a Monday

Average rum at best, the 7 year old is much better. Fine for mixing but I don’t have a place for it at my bar.

It's solid rum, many people start with this rum but it's completely opposite than Captain Morgan for example as starter. No much sweetness or spices. It has whisky feeling because it's mostly oak that I taste.I was actually surprised by amount of oak taste. I like it it's not special but very solid and excellent for the price.

The original taste before the 2015 change of recipe (last bottle with original taste I bought 2016) was unmistakable Havana Club with pronounced tobacco and wood in smell, taste and aftertaste. I cannot remember first time I tried this rum, but it must have been some 25 years ago. Some people do not like the bottom HC product line (3y, Especial, 7y) smell, the body, the alcohol burn. Well, I am pretty much used to it after all these years, so was able to sip HC Especial, no problem. Used to make decent Cuba libre. Reedit 06/2021 - I did not realize for how long I actually did not buy this rum - the characteristic tobacco in smell and taste is almost gone, it is sweeter and smoother than the original, but also less distinctive in taste. The original would score 7, but this is rather 6. Still a decent mixer and a good value for the money. It lost most of its sentimental value for me though, as this is one of the first rums I have ever tasted.

Yeah it’s ok for mixing. Nice enough daiquri and for blending cocktails

As the title says, nice rum but no where near as the 7 year. Not as much body or taste but still a great mixer. Got into Havana rum when visiting Cuba, always a safe bet for a pleasent drink.

This is my gold standard for making cocktails (unless I need a specific profile). It's smooth but bold, it lingers but doesn't stain. I honestly feel that any improvement would overpowering its ability to work in almost any rum cocktail.