Aroma visualization from community tastings
Taste
Woody, Caramel, Vanilla
Most mentioned across 82 tasting notes
- Perfect for
- fans of dry, woody Cuban rum wanting a step up from the basics
- Less suitable for
- drinkers wanting a soft, sweet rum with a long finish
- How to drink
- Neat and in cocktails
Havana Club Selección de Maestros
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Sip it neat and you get dry oak, tobacco and burnt caramel, with a peppery edge and the 45% showing through — several tasters mention the alcohol never fully settles, and the finish fades fast. It's the step up from the 7-year most members reach for: woody, spicy, Cuban through and through. Plenty also just pour it into cola and don't look back.
The community says- Dry woody character
- Tobacco & oak
- Less suitable for: drinkers wanting a soft, sweet rum with a long finish
Offers & prices
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Offers & prices
No shop currently delivers to Germany.
Auction results: 32–77 € (15 sales in 24 months, incl. buyer's premium, latest 10/2026). How the range is built ›
Buying advice
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Milder
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The look inside the bottle
How does Havana Club Selección de Maestros taste?
From community reviews · summarized with AI
Dry, woody Cuban — the best-value Havana Most land on "the best Havana for the money" — dry, woody, nicely cask-driven. The knocks are recurring: thin finish, alcohol a touch sharp, not hugely complex.
Aroma profileIs it right for you?
Yes, if you're after bold, mature, oaky rums for sipping neat.
fans of dry, woody Cuban rum wanting a step up from the basics
drinkers wanting a soft, sweet rum with a long finish
Style & occasion: Mature & oakySipping neatCocktails & mixing
Full aroma profile Aroma families · nose & palate · top aromas
Relative to this rum's strongest aroma family
Share of the 82 detailed tastings that name the aroma
82 of 283 left detailed tasting impressions · Click an aroma to explore similar rums
Which glass for which rum? The community guide ›
What does the community say?
283 community reviews
Rating scale & review checks
On RumX, 7 means “Good” and 8 means “Very good”.
See the full rating guideHow ratings are made and how we check them ›The website shows a selection of written reviews. The distribution also includes ratings without text. All published reviews are available in the RumX app.
46 selected written reviews
The distribution above includes all 283 ratings, including those without text.
Review by Johannes G
Most helpful positive review
For me in the Havana Club range, a really nicely balanced but still typically Cuban racy rum. Very pleasant smell, which is clearly more fruity than the taste. In the finish short but rough. From the price-performance ratio for me the best of the Havanas. And this was tried from 10 to 190 € some from the house Havana Club.
Review by F.L.O.
Most helpful critical review
Almost too good to drink for the crap, But it makes an absolutely awesome Cuba Libre!!
Review by Henry Davies
In my view one of the best balanced Spanish style Ron’s. Delicate nose with toffee, malt and caramel notes. Body is really well balanced with a spicy edge, caramel, and oak. Finish is slightly short, with leather and vanilla the main components. Not exceptional but punches well above its weight and worth exploring for those into Barbadian and Jamaican rums
Review by Stefan Persson
Almost all Havana Club rums are overpriced in my opinion even if they taste good, but this one is much more price worthy than the 15yo. The nose is woody and smoky with an aroma of vanilla. At the palate and during the medium long finish it’s woody, spicy with some sweetness and flavors of fruits and vanilla.
Review by Gunnar Böhme "Bauerngaumen" 🤓
The rum is too thin and meaningless for me, you're not doing yourself any favors. It's better to go for the HC 15 años if you have the opportunity, even if it's three times as expensive. Update 2024-12-25: Surprisingly, today, three years after the first tasting, I find the rum much better than at the time, when I only gave it 64 points. Unmistakably Cuban, beautifully woody, vanilla and dry, with an appealing level of alcoholic power. I would have expected a lower rating for this re-tasting, as my tastes have moved a long way away from such standard Spanish-style bottlings - but no, this rum turns out to be a rock-solid all-rounder that can definitely satisfy everyone on a relaxed evening in an average small-town bar with rum newbies (and on top of that outclasses the much sweeter Havana Club Barrel Proof). The fact that it has virtually no finish - no problem. Just pour it again right away. 😉
Review by Mirko Frosini 🇮🇪
A good rum. A Havana Club that stands out from the classic Reserva and 7 years and shows the qualities of the distillery. Unfortunately, the higher-end Havana Club rums are too expensive for me to really understand the true potential of the brand. Medium finish. Notes of cocoa/chocolate mixed with vanilla and a fleeting barrel touch. I don't understand why Spanish rums insist on stretching them out.
Review by LukaŽiga
7,5:The nose of this rum is clear and rather frank. It's a traditional Spanish rum, simple and effective. One senses the warmth of roasting nuts, toasted wood and leather. Caramel and vanilla are treated with finesse and delicacy. The cane with pear/apple notes shines through. A well-crafted, balanced nose. On aeration, a certain sweetness compensates for the alcohol emanating from the glass. This is a rather light rum, with a caramelized woodiness. Through this woodiness, hints of mango add dynamism. Smaller, drier notes of straw and hazelnut powder are enveloped in reduced cane syrup. 8,3:On the palate, simplicity is still the order of the day. We savor crushed red berries that are immediately sprinkled with woody caramel and molasses, which brings tobacco, with a whiff of smoke.The palate then becomes drier, with a toasty woodiness that releases a few roasted spices, all is well rounded, balanced and oxidized now. 7,4:The finish remains in continuity, rather dry and woody, fruity, with burnt caramel.. Edit:14.2.25, 20.6.25
Review by Kevin Sorensen 🇩🇰
This is a pretty good rum especially thinking about the price tag. Probably a really good rum for mixers.
Review by FL_RumRunner
As I improve my tasting skills, I go back to this bottle. I get more and more notes every time. It’s smooth and sweet with a nice medium finish. The nose is beautifully complex with lots of sweet caramel and brown sugar notes with some other lighter notes from the barrel and some dried fruit. Overall an excellent rum, but I prefer a little sweeter.
Review by crazyforgoodbooze
nice round and also somewhat more complex Havana, easy to drink, nice pear and nougat chocolate note with some nut. definitely one of the best PLV Cubans from Havana Club. Alcohol could be slightly better integrated. But makes a really tasty old Cuban!
Review by Oliver
Quite edgy (in a positive sense) Cuban. I like it best in the Havana Club lineup.
Review by Timo Groeger
Huh? Why didn't I rate it? There's not much you can say about this rum. This rum is relatively sweet. Chocolate and vanilla are really clearly recognizable, but still within limits. Actually quite okay for that :)
Review by paulgi86
Finally!!! The rum equivalent of the Arran 10YO - affordable, great quality and great delivery of flavour. It may be considered “simple” in terms of complexity BUT it certainly delivers what it does excellent A proper permashelf item this is!!
Review by heckto🥃
A spicy-woody Cuban. Leathery with caramel notes in the finish. Better than the Havana Standard portfolio but not a top performer. Personally, it's a bit too alcoholic for me. Price/performance is OK, but I've drunk better for 50€ before.
Review by MarcT
Hm. I grew up with Havana Club, mostly using it as mixer. The 7yo was drinkable as sipper, but this is something different. It has more power (higher ABV) and does really have a nice cask influence. Otherwise I get the spices I am used to. A certain sharpness, that I still need to analyze. Very easy drinkable.
Review by Chrischi78
Doesn't blow you away at all. A bit sharp in taste. Few complex aromas. Short to medium finish. As you can tell from the bored description, it just isn't fun.
Review by Patrik Onderka
Just hanging out with family in a pub and tried this one. Not great, not special I prefer Foursquare and Appketon. I’m not a fan of Havana Club in general, but this one is not so bad. Clearly, the best Havana I had so far.
Review by Golden Hind
Very good. Solid rum.
Review by Oscar Fernandez
Good rum, Spanish style, light and easy to drink. I enjoyed it more on the rocks. Salu! 🥃
Review by Rumpalumpa
First of all, great that there's a non-exclusive 'Spanish' rum here with more than 40%. On the nose, lots of cask spice towards nuts. Dark dried fruits in the background. On the palate, first pleasantly sweet followed by walnut and spices that pleasantly tingle. Then a bit bitter.
Review by Peter Škabla
Thin, clean body, with a strong alcohol kick on both nose and palate. Not my style at all.
Review by Lutz Lungershausen
06.2024 First impression: warm color, typical 'Ron' aromas Nose: the full range of wood, vanilla, caramel, roasted and tobacco aromas, alongside subtle hints of fermented fruits and overall mild Palate: very complex, pretty much everything that characterizes Spanish-style rum is present Finish: continuation of the palate impressions, dark toasted, tobacco, oak Overall impression: impressive complexity, but not among my personal favorites as a neat sipper For the French recipe 'Far Breton' I used it to soak the dried plums – made a very good job.
Review by Alexander Rasch
My RumRatings review from 6 years ago: Edit 2026: Over the years, I've killed at least three bottles of the Seleccion in cola. I still stand by the fact that it simply convinces there. Back to 2019-2020: The Havana Club is intense on the nose. Smoke and wood notes make it interesting and appealing. I think the rum can clearly score here. Typical Havana Club notes are recognizable. I let the rum breathe for 10 minutes. On the palate, intense smoke and wood aromas as well as tobacco are immediately noticeable. There's a bit of caramel sweetness. Some chocolate or cocoa comes through. Fruity notes are completely missing here. Then comes the disappointment in the finish. Short to medium length and with a noticeable alcohol note, the Havana Club says goodbye to the taste buds and the premium rum category. That's just too little. It offers few nuances and the alcohol lingers on the palate. Update Oct 2020: The finish has improved significantly. The rum was able to breathe a bit in the bottle. Overall, the rum got better over time. Now smoky oak notes and spice are more clearly recognizable and the alcohol has lost presence. Nice. The Havana Club has great interesting approaches that I really appreciate. The combination of smoke, wood and tobacco notes is very appealing and the dry character is direct and authentic. But the finish reveals that the rum is only an upgrade of the 7-year-old Havana Club. For that, it's overpriced and for 40-50 euros you can buy better ones. I'm glad I got it on sale. It's okay for vacation. I'll enjoy it and also test it in cola. Nostalgia! Havana Club brought me to rum and I had almost all Havana Clubs for mixing. Now I wanted to see if the Maestros can offer more.
Review by Leslie Haigh
brilliant 1st Cuban drink I have drank gose down very easy 45% hardly any burn a must try in my opinion
Review by rum_sk
I approached this one very carefuly as I have a big problem with white havana club rum. On the 👃I sense fruitiness mixed with woody, oakiness and subtle whiff of alcohol. Taste is on another level. I love it as it has all elements- sweet, spicy, bitter you name it. I sense caramel, burnt sugar along with cocoa, chocolate, slight indication of vanilla coming out of the barrel. The spicy element is there too as it is a little bit peppery with hint of ginger but the most important substance however, is the coffee or mocha expression which leaves a bitter aftertaste. A great sipper overall I love. It is a must taste for every rum enthusiast.
Review by Nicolas Kröger
It's okay. Subtle rye notes, little body. Well made but boring.
Review by Andrew Mainprice
You can see why people enjoy Cuban rum
Review by Jakob Deiner
I'm having a bit of trouble with this one, as a fanboy I'd rather wish for a (still) more noble Havana 7 than a quite different flavor profile in the step-up.. It's definitely not bad, woody, oak, a bit of vanilla and some fruit, you notice the 45% alcohol content, but it burns relatively little. Drinks: - Neat: 4/5 - Rum Fashioned: 4.5/5 - Rum Cola: 4.5/5 - Rum Mule: 4/5
Review by ThatCubanRumGuy
I’m in Spain and of course I had to do a tasting of the rum from my country. It’s currently prohibited in the United States, where I currently live, to distribute this rum, so only fitting that I try it here. Nose: Caramel, vanilla and light wood Palate: Caramelized brown sugar, tabacoo, vanilla and pepper Finish: Finish is long with some spice, caramel and vanilla. Empty glass smells like wood and tabacco
Review by Beach-and-Rum 🏖️🌴
One of my first better Cuban rums.
Review by Adam Rajchert
A very pleasant blend, combining juicy fruits, floral elements, and a well-marked aging component. Without a doubt, if I had more than a sample, I would find something more in this flavor. Smell: hazelnuts, vanilla, cherries in syrup, coffee, Taste: dried apricots, nectarines, fruity, light honey, peaches, pleasantly spicy, dried fruits, nuts, spices, oak, a bit of coconut, violets Finish: coffee, dried fruits, cocoa
Review by Wernie
One can definitely try. Lots of wood and spice, a little fruity on the nose, on the palate almost not at all, but leather and tobacco. Surprisingly sweet, but rather so direction burnt caramel.
Review by Ryan Stuivenvolt
Perfect taste!
Review by Hans-Peter Jank
A good Havana Club Rumeo as long as the price-performance ratio still fits. Cheaper compared to the 15-year-old.
Review by Ian Gilman
For the value, I’ll take the 7 year.
Review by Pandemonia
Very spice and woody-leaning jn almost equal proportions. Some earthy tobacco notes which are really well incorporated. I don't usually pick up such a clear tobacco note which I appreciated more than I thought I would. A hint of cherry on the nose but otherwise pretty much just dark spicy and woody notes which are not very deep or layered but it is still a well-made rum. Should suit beginners (like myself) well.
Review by Peter Sjoroos
The only ok Havana according to price! (except of course Havana 3 as a drink mixer). Actually not bad at all. Vanilla, caramel, oak, tobacco and a little spicy/peppery.
Review by Tom M
beautiful racy Cuban, which embodies the Havana taste very balanced. In terms of price-performance ratio, perhaps the best of the Havanas.
Review by themanwhowasntthere
Really pleasant sipper
Review by Anonymous
I found it very alcoholic at first (I think this characterizes the rums of this manufacturer). At least it’s not a matter of strength, I drink rums and whiskeys with a cask strength, 45 abv wouldn’t surprise me. Then, after a week, it became better (or the receptors got used to it) and I was able to notice more pleasant qualities of the drink. But I think that for the price I bought it, there are many more worthy drinks.
Review by Blaž Ulaga
Gentle smoky oak and some pleasant spice. It is smooth on the palate, pleasant and aromatic, offering a woody start on the nose ... On the palate, a round mouth feel leads to a complex, flavourful, full-bodied palate of cocoa, coffee, sweet tobacco and brown spices.
Review by Vycas
Bought it at the CDG duty free. It’s delicious. Kind of a consolation prize leaving Paris with this bottle instead of the amazing rums I encountered in the city. That said, I like it and will buy it again when I get the chance.
Review by Hendrik Fröhlich
Nice and typical Cuban.
Review by Solidfunk
Honey and caramel, some roasted coconut. Pours dark amber. A decent dose of oak that hangs with you for a minute. Not sure it's a huge step up from the seven year Havana Club but it's smoothe and pleasant. Had a glass at Honi Honi in Edmonton.
Review by Richard Krupa
The first shot didn't taste good to me, after the second I already liked it. Full unsweetened flavor. One of my first sharper ones.
Review by Kamil Křenek
Best Havana I've tried so far
This selection contains no written reviews in this rating range.
Expert reviews
4 critics scored it, averaging 7.7/10. Reviews from RumX's blog partners, independent experts who have tasted, evaluated, and described this rum.
Expert review by RumRock
Read full review ›So today we have a rum from one of the most famous rum producers in the world. The taste is very pleasant, slightly smoky with wood and a certain sweetness. Definitely a suitable piece for a good cigar.
Expert review by The Fat Rum Pirate
Read full review ›I confess I mixed a very small amount with an equally small amount of cola. It was as expected very pleasant but I did feel I was missing out on that wonderful sipping experience! Havana Club Seleccion de Maestros is available from
Expert review by Rum nagykövet
Read full review ›
Expert review by The Auditor Reviews
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Expert review by In Spiritus Veritas
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Havana Club Selección de Maestros at live auctions
A bid is not a final price: the house sets the buyer's premium, shipping and any customs duty.
All live auctions ›Community shelf
- 738 bottles on the shelf, owned by 638 members
- 302 tastings
- 142 wishlists
Opened or kept?
452 of 738 bottles are still sealed.
- 452 sealed
- 163 open
- 123 emptied
What did the community pay for Havana Club Selección de Maestros?
43 € median purchase price
The middle 80% of purchase prices were between 31 and 58 €.
Price history with 15 auction results in RX+ ›Reported by RumX members from their collections · as of · How these numbers are made ›
Details about Havana Club Selección de Maestros
A Column Still Rum from Cuba, distilled by Havana Club, at 45%.
Origin
In the bottle
Read on in the RumX Guide
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