The Return of Havana Club
Admittedly, I’m too young to remember Havana Club, but who hasn’t heard of the famed rum? The government of Cuba has claimed ownership of the trademark and currently produces its own Havana Club, which is exported by Pernod Ricard. However, it’s not available in the USA due to the embargo.
Last week though, the US Patent and Trademark Office officially ruled that the trademark is cancelled/expired (surprise surprise), which means Bacardi is relaunching its own Havana Club! The rum will be available initially in Florida but will roll out nationwide. Supposedly, it will even be based on the true recipe, which Ramon Arechabala brought to the US after Castro seized control. Arechabala then cut a deal with Bacardi to allow the company to use his recipe.
Combined with America’s new thirst for mojitos, Fidel Castro’s latest health setbacks, and the love of retro, Bacardi looks ready to hit a home run. Like frequent reader Craiger wrote when submitting this article, “I can hear tiki mugs being dusted off already!”
