Rum Museum

An ancient three floor colonial residence, placed at El Puerto Avenue, in Havana, is the venue of the Rum Museum . Historians affirmed it was built in the 17th century (1772- 1780), and that it was owned by the Counts Mortera. Due to its historical values was declared Cultural Patrimony of Havana by the UNESCO in 1982. Professional guides show the visitors, in Spanish, English, French, German and Italian, all the steps in the manufacture of the original Cuban rum. The explanation goes from the raw material in the sugar cane field up to the taste, with a special remark in the final toast with Havana Club Rum in the bar, at the rhythm of Cuban traditional music.

This institution created in March 31st, 2000, has in its first room a reproduction of a workshop to build wooden barrels, made of American white oak, with a 180 liters capacity or more.

A second room has pictures of the slaves when cutting the sugar cane and transporting it. They represent the mill, a kind of wooden rotation system to obtain the juice (guarapo), who first worked in a manual form and afterwards with the use of animals.

T he museum also has a miniature batey, representing the activity of the community, as well as a small railway reaching the surrounding areas and facilities. In the reproduction could be appreciated the Maestro, in a replica of a lived moment, bending his body over the containers at the time to produce the formula to give rum its unique taste.

Back to the ground floor, is the tasting bar where visitors get a free Havana Club drink. A lottery is played every month with the visitors and the winner receives in his/her house, no matter the residence country a bottle of special reserve of San Cristóbal de La Habana Rum.

An additional value to the charms of this museum is the fact that they can teach you how to make Habanos cigars.
The place is an important cultural and gastronomic site, with restaurant, bar, shop, and the and offer of guarapo and rum in the patio.

Another original option are the bar tender’s lessons, where visitors can learn how to prepare a Mojito, the Cuban typical drink, made of rum, lime, sugar and mint leaves.

Address: 262 San Pedro, and Sol, Old Havana.
Telephone: 861 8051.
Open: Monday through Thursdays 9:00 – 17:00; Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays 9:00 - 16:00.
Entrance:$ 5.00 CUC (children free of charge).

The visit have a 25 minutes tour, including tasting and the use of video and photo cameras.