Havana Club Rum

Havana Club is a world-renowned brand of rum with a complex history deeply tied to Cuban national identity and international trademark disputes. Originally established in Cárdenas, Cuba, in 1934 by José Arechabala S.A., the brand was nationalized by the Cuban government following the 1959 revolution. Today, the Cuban-made version is produced through a joint venture between the state-owned Cuba Ron S.A. and the French spirits giant Pernod Ricard.

Manufacturing takes place predominantly in Santa Cruz del Norte and San José de las Lajas, Cuba, where the rum is distilled from domestic sugarcane molasses. However, due to the decades-long trade embargo, a version of Havana Club is also produced in Puerto Rico by Bacardi specifically for the United States market. This dual production stems from a long-standing legal battle over the brand's intellectual property, making it one of the most unique cases in the global beverage industry.