In one respect, Santiago de Cuba, the second largest city on the Caribbean island, has managed to be perceived on an equal footing with the capital, Havana: the names of both cities are carried around the world on the labels of bottles of Cuban rum. However, the “Santiago de Cuba” brand is not nearly as well known as “Havana Club”. There is no question that impeccable quality is bottled under the name of the capital. But once you’ve got a taste for it, it’s also worth trying other varieties. Similar styles of rum are offered among Cuban brands, but there are differences.
So the rum from Santiago, the metropolis on the eastern end of the island, is a little lighter and more delicate when you compare the light, not long-matured variants. The white “Carta Blanca” is dry and, like the most widespread bottling of “Havana Club”, is matured in wooden barrels for three years.