Havana Club Seleccion de Maestros

[REASON]

I went out to grab a bootle of Basil Hayden's Bourbon and picked this up , are these any good at 65 a bottle?

I have bought it already just want to know what everyone thinks?

thanks,

Chris.

Havana Club Seleccion de MAESTROS by REASON29, on Flickr

[Lotusguy]

I much prefer the Anejo 7.

[AdamK]

Where did you buy it?

[LLC]

I usually keep a bottle around and like it.

[REASON]

I got it from my usual Scotch store here in Edmonton, Alberta( they have about 12 or more bottles). I seen this for sale on another cigar site for $200 this is why it caught my eye, thought wow this is no where near that price here and picked it up. I have not had it and will try it a bit later. I know there is a ton of people here that can chime in so I wanted opinions

[Ryan]

This rum is supposedly the replacement for HC Barrel Proof. Some people say it's different, I think it's the same rum repackaged. Barrel Proof was supposedly duty free only. Good rum, I'm not a fan at all personally of HC 7 but I like this. Too expensive here at 85 euro a bottle for me to drink regularly. $65 is a good price, it's $45 in Cuba, although in Cuba my favourite rum is $7.60..

[REASON]

Well at 65 canadian I feel ok about the purchase then.

[Scdalak]

I much prefer the Anejo 7.

+1

[REASON]

None in Quebec annoyingly, but $60 in Ontario. So $65 is a normal price. $200 is gouging and stupid.

Exactly what I thought, I feel like posting a FS thread saying I will get at cost plus shipping to anyone, but to each there own I suppose

[LLC]

Yep $59.65 day in and day out in Ontario. For $200 you could buy a lot if other very good bottles.

[CUBANO]

Got a bottle at a Cancun store last year and in my opinion is better than the HC7 and Anejo.

[bassman]

Got the Barrel Proof a few years ago. Tasted "hot". HC& is better. Legendario Elixir de Cuba much better.

[Ryan]

Legendario Elixir de Cuba much better.

Legendario Elixir isn't really a rum. The hint is in the name. It's a rum liqueur, sweetened with extra sugar and raisins, of all things.

It's to rum what Drambuie is to scotch. It's not my thing though I could see why it's liked. It's not really comparing like with like though.

[CanuckSARTech]

This rum is supposedly the replacement for HC Barrel Proof. Some people say it's different, I think it's the same rum repackaged. Barrel Proof was supposedly duty free only. Good rum, I'm not a fan at all personally of HC 7 but I like this. Too expensive here at 85 euro a bottle for me to drink regularly. $65 is a good price, it's $45 in Cuba, although in Cuba my favourite rum is $7.60..

For what it's worth, I only ever bought Barrel Proof from the La Casa del Ron in Varadero and at one in Havana. I think that the Seleccion de Maestros, when it first came out, was intended as a duty-free-only, as that's how it was being marketed when I first saw it there in January-February 2011.

And agreed - other rums are better and more approachable at cheaper prices. While I generally keep a bottle of Barrel Proof on hand, I find HC 7 and Ron Santiago Anejo to be more inexpensive, yet better.

[Wil]

I much prefer the Anejo 7.

Have you tried the Anejo Reserva? I like the 7 but the Reserva is even better IMO. Cheaper too!

[Lotusguy]

Have you tried the Anejo Reserva? I like the 7 but the Reserva is even better IMO. Cheaper too!

I have not - but I will, based on your recommendation

[Ryan]

I think I'm in a minority not liking HC 7. I really do find a strong 'acetone' flavour from it. Think nail polish remover.

I like the especial, Reserva, and the barrel proof. I've had great nights with a bottle of the white stuff on the malecon, though I suppose that's a different thing.

The 7 year old just doesn't do it for me though. For that age, give me Santiago or Caney.

[cigarmonologues]

I'm with you in that minority Ryan. I don't actively dislike the HC7 (though won't drink it neat). I just think it's not as good as the Barrel Proof/Seleccion de Maestros, and no better than the Anejo Especial.

I've got a few bottles of the Barrel Proof hidden away somewhere from when it was discontinued - already doubled in value. I have it on good authority, from the UK distributor, that the Seleccion de Maestros is, as Ryan suggests, exactly the same rum as the Barrel Proof (just in new clothes). So I can continue enjoying the Barrel Proof, whilst it goes up in value...

[canadianbeaver]

Garfield (lonsdaleto) brought a bottle of this special Havana Club to our Herf last year. We did not get to it but I took it Art Maverick's house on the day of the big Toronto Herf. It is there now. I am sure we will enjoy it together since it is "FOH Toronto bottle".