Wednesday, July 26, 2017

Fidel Castro’s Personal Rum Arrives in the United Kingdom

      Cuban rum brand Isla del Tesoro, once produced for revolutionary Fidel Castro, has been made available in the UK through distributor Spirit Cartel, priced at $650.00.  For 50 years Isla del Tesoro, or ‘treasure island’, was distilled for Castro’s personal consumption; gifted to visiting international dignitaries and senior members of Cuban government. Until recently the rum was not commercially available, and even now production is limited.
     The original recipe for Isla del Tesoro was created from a collection of rums appropriated by the Cuban State from rum-producing families fleeing the Revolution. They were discovered in 1959 ageing in a cellar nicknamed the ‘Cathedral of Light Rum’.  The expression is presented in an individually-numbered ceramic decanter encased in a handmade wooden chest.   A map accompanies the bottle, depicting the location of Isla del Tesoro, now called Isla de la Juventud.
    Charles Marshall, Spirit Cartel, said: “Isla del Tesoro is truly the stuff legends are made of.  We feel it’s our own little revolution and certainly a piece of history, just being granted the UK distribution for the this very special rum.  

     The romance surrounding this rum, contributes to the myth that it has come to represent the Cuban people’s soul: pure and full of spirit, whilst maintaining a real sense of dignity and elegance.  “It’s a rum for connoisseurs and aficionados. In my opinion, no rum collection is complete without a bottle of ‘El Caballo’s’ personal rum.  No matter of what you think about Fidel Castro, this is one of those rare and unusual rums that would be a cornerstone for any collector.