Travel to Cuba Without Leaving the Country With These Havana Club Cocktails

Published on 4/18/2019 at 2:02 PM

Havana Club

I'm not Cuban, I'm Dominican, but for some reason, Cuba has always spoken to me. The history, the music, the traditions, the food, the people. I find a lot of it to be very similar to Dominican Republic, and it's no secret that I will get Cuban food at least once a week. Some of the most influential teachers I had while growing up were also Cuban, and whenever I'm surrounded by Cubans it feels very similar to home.

I recently had the opportunity to go to Miami — as close to Cuba as you can get without leaving the US — and was able to enjoy a couple of days with Gio Gutierrez, Havana Club brand ambassador, a true Cubano who perfectly embodies the colorfulness, friendliness, and endless spark that defines Cubans. He showed me around Little Havana while we tried some delicious cocktails that best represent "La Perla de las Antillas."

All of these cocktails were carefully tasted and enjoyed by yours truly, and I'm sharing with you because they're so good I couldn't just keep them to myself. I hope your taste buds go on the most epic adventure once you try these concoctions, and that you find yourself moving your hips to the tune of a song while sipping on your drink!

Airmail

The Airmail has all the ingredients I like for a fancy Summer night out. It's light and sparkly, but with a lot of personality. It's not as sweet as you might expect, and has just the right taste to leave you feeling in the perfect mood. I might have drank this one faster than I should've.

Ingredients:

1 1/2 parts Havana Club Añejo Blanco rum
3/4 parts fresh lime juice
3/4 parts honey syrup (2:1 ratio of honey to water)
Martini & Rossi prosecco
Lime twist for garnish

Method: Combine Havana Club Añejo Blanco rum, honey syrup, and lime juice in a cocktail shaker. Add ice and shake until chilled. Strain into a champagne glass. Top with Martini & Rossi prosecco. Garnish with a lime twist.

Bertica

Bertica was a surprise for me. I'm usually not one to like strong cocktails, but this one made me feel like I was "la jefa." Just one sip and I felt strong, empowered, and ready to take on the night. What I loved the most about this cocktail, though, was its history. Bertica is Gio Gutierrez's mom, and number one fan of Julio Cabrera, the Cantinero and founder of Cafe La Trova in Little Habana. Julio created this drink for her, and when you drink it, you definitely feel like you know Bertica.

Ingredients:

2 parts cacao-infused Havana Club Añejo Clásico rum
1 part Martini & Rossi sweet vermouth
2 dashes coffee bitters
1/2 part Amaro Montenegro

Method: Stir all ingredients vigorously with plenty of ice until very cold and strain into a coupe or a martini glass. Garnish with a maraschino cherry.

Guayabita Daiquiri

Move over, regular daiquiri! The Guayabita Daiquiri just dethroned you as the ultimate drink you'd get at the beach or poolside. It's sweet, tangy, and has a lot of flavor. When I had it I felt like I was Halle Berry coming out of the beach in "Die Another Day" in the unforgettable orange bikini. I kid you not!

Ingredients:

2 parts Havana Club Añejo Blanco
3/4 part guava
1 part lime juice
3/4 part simple syrup

Method: Combine all ingredients in a shaker with ice. Shake and strain into a coupe glass. Garnish with a lime wheel.

Havana Café

This drink was my second favorite of all the ones I tried. The cafecito gave it an extra kick, making it the perfect cocktail if you prefer your nights long and full of adventures. I knew I really liked it when I had finished it in less than two minutes, despite not drinking a lot of coffee and being very particular with strong drinks.

Ingredients:

2 parts Havana Club Añejo Clásico rum
1/4 part demerara sugar
3/4 part Martini & Rossi Rosso Vermouth
1/2 part Cold Brew Coffee
Garnish with lemon twist
Single ice rock

Method: Stir all ingredients with plenty of ice until very cold. Strain into a rocks glass over a large ice cube.

Havana Especial

Light, fluffy, delicious. That's the Havana Especial. I could go to Cuba and drink this the whole trip (who needs water, right?). The Havana Especial is a signature drink from El Floridita, the famous bar in La Habana that Ernest Hemingway used to frequent. Although the bar is famous for the daiquiris, the Havana Especial is that classic Cuban cocktail you have to try.

Ingredients:

1 1/2 parts Havana Club Añejo Blanco
1 1/2 parts pineapple juice
1/2 part fresh lemon juice
1/2 part simple syrup
Barspoon of Maraschino Liqueur
Garnish with pineapple leaf and pineapple wedge

Method: Combine all ingredients in a shaker with ice. Shake and strain into a highball glass filled with crushed ice. Garnish with a pineapple leaf.

OId Cuban

The Old Cuban was hands down my favorite cocktail of the ones I tried. If I were a drink, I would be this one: strong, smooth, not too intense but waiting for the right moment to really surprise you. It's a little sour but also sweet, and fun and sparkly to top it off.

Ingredients:

1 1/2 parts Havana Club Añejo Clásico
3/4 part fresh lime juice
1 part simple syrup
2 dashes of Angostura bitters
6-8 mint leaves
2 parts Martini & Rossi Prosecco
Garnish: Mint leaf

Method: Muddle the lime juice, syrup, and mint in a mixing glass. Add the rum, bitters, and ice, and shake well. Strain into a coupe glass and top with the Martini & Rossi Prosecco and garnish with a mint leaf.