Well writ. I suspect that for many the attraction of Havana Club is the label and its (romantic?) origin. It's certainly better than my attempted humor in mentioning Cachaca and Cana, but no more so than any number of mass produced and bottled examples.

Not much of a rum drinker except in "cocktails" in which the other ingredients would mask even the most distinguished of brands, I occasionally buy a bottle of Barbancourt premium aged rum from Haiti (as much because a friend here is related to the family as any other reason) to enjoy. The best reasons for rum are the almost countless styles and tastes available, although I'm convinced that the "over-proofs", that handful of 151 bottlings are little better than flavored "Everclear", when it comes to enjoyment. I'm fond of the heavier "Navy" type rums, but the absolute worst rum I've encountered was a dark (as Black Sambuca) Cruzan, apparently cut with burnt sugar and molasses.

But then, how would I know, raised close to Mexico, source of the even then infamous Ron Batey, the equivalent of $ .50 a bottle in Mexican bottle shops in my youth? I haven't seen a bottle in years and suspect that the distillery (Cordoba or Orizaba, VC?) has become defunct or has been absorbed by Domeq or another cartel.