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Rum once blended solely for Fidel Castro hits UK

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 £499 (US$650).

Cuban rum brand Isla del Tesoro has been made available in the UK

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 liquid 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 island – now called Isla de la Juventud.

Charles Marshall, Spirit Cartel, said: “Isla del Tesoro is truly the stuff of legend. We feel it’s our own little revolution and certainly a piece of history, just getting our hands on the UK distribution for the 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. We can all be a little Fidelista even if we are not communist.”

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