There’s no reason for me to not believe that these undisclosed Cubans hail from Sancti Spiritus (who else is selling bulk after all!?) but we just cannot be sure about it. Anyway, while there were a few nice Cuban Rums in the past, the more recent bottlings we’ve had didn’t really convince us. But being who we are, we just have to keep on digging.

Compagnie des Indes Cuba “Secrete” 2008 10YO (42%): 42% and just 60 bottles. A very rare release with little to no information. Nose: Very simple with vanilla, white chocolate and lime. That sums it up pretty well, I think. And while I think that it is a cool combination, it is incredibly one-dimensional and dull. Palate: Just as expected, there’s nothing else to discover here. Oak and spices perhaps but that’s everything that’s worth pointing out here. Finish: Nothing to add either. Quite short. While it might sound like it, it isn’t a particularly bad bottling. It simply lacks complexity and flavour. (70/100)

Compagnie des Indes Cuba “Secrete” -Rum&Co- 2009 10YO (58%): Time flies. I cannot believe that this bottling already dates back four years. Anyway, nose: Rather faulty. You can tell that this comes from a large column. Sulphur, lid matches, vanilla, citrus and peppery spices. I’d say that this is probably closer to Panama than it is to Cuba but no matter what, I isn’t any good. Palate: Just as bad as the nose, as it suffers from the same problems. Too many faulty notes, too little character and just not our cup of tea. On the plus side we might note that the integration of the alcohol is rather good. Finish: Once again pretty much identical to the palate, except that I’d want this one to finish even quicker. I am really missing the Cubans from the 1990s… (63/100)

So several bottlings by Compagnie des Indes today. I didn’t want to get into this at first but it seems to me that they bottle whatever they can these days -good or bad- and I don’t think I like this. Don’t get me wrong, it has always been like this but lately this is really getting out of hand. For anyone who is remotely familiar with German football, a (former) blogging colleague once called Florian Beuchet the Felix Magath of Rum: Buy everything, a few will pan out. I think that is pretty accurate. The major problem is that the miss-rate is seemingly increasing…

Compagnie des Indes Cuba “Secrete” 2009 12YO (48%): This is not the correct label (see the post’s featured image but it is a sister cask with the same general design. Nose: A mix of of citrus fruits and peppery notes, as well as other related spices such as allspice. From the get go it is much more approachable and way less faulty than the Rum & Co bottling. It is definitely the same juice as the Rum above, but this was a better cask I think. Palate: Way less of these citrus notes, which made the nose somewhat enjoyable. I wouldn’t say it is a bad Rum, cause it isn’t, but this profile with juniper, pepper, oak and chili just doesn’t do it for me. In a sense, this might also be a gentle Speyside Whiskey and chances are these alleged Scotch experts wouldn’t even notice in a blind tasting. Finish: Not very long with peppery spices, oak and hint of apple. All in all it is about average I’d say. (74/100)

Romdeluxe Cuba 2015 5YO (65,1%): Despiste some of the obvious missteps, Romdeluxe is always having a few highly interesting releases. Nose: Very tame but pleasant with different citrus fruits, sugar and caramel, a fruity red wine, some nutty notes and perfumed candle wax. At 65% I was expecting something more aggressive and direct but this is rather subtle and fragile. Palate: Still quite smooth and much stronger on spices, which is a rather lovely spectrum. Behind that I get notes of apricot, quince jam and those citrus fruits again. I am pleasantly surprised, it is quite a cool Rum! Finish: Quite short with pepper, oak, chocolate and apricot. A very nice selection I must say! (83/100)