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.