£500 Fidel Castro rum to be distributed in the UK

Isla del Tesoro, an antique rum first discovered in 1959, will be distributed in the UK by Spirit Cartel, and retails at £499.

The rum is a culmination of 150 years of wisdom and ‘know-how’, and was first blended from a collection of rums appropriated by the Cuban State, hitherto owned by old rum families who fled the Revolution.

These rums were discovered in 1959, gently ageing in an old cellar nicknamed the ‘Cathedral of Light Rum’.

'The stuff of legend'

For 50 years, the rum was blended for Castro alone, before being gifted to visiting international dignitaries and senior members of Cuban Government. It was only recently made commercially available, with production very limited.

Spirit Cartel’s Charles Marshall 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.

“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.”

Scottish white rum

Last year boilermaker drinks announced the launch​ of what it claims was the first white rum to be distilled on Scottish soil.

The rum, a 41% product called SeaWolf was created by Mike Aikman and Jason Scott, who run Edinburgh bar Bramble, and independent wine merchant Vino Wines founder Gavin Ferguson.