"All hail the Count...Edmundo Dantes"
In my quest to prepare for my trip to Cuba, I delved deep into the world of rum. I sought out as many different styles as I could get my hands on. Prior to my trip, I had acquired over 35 different rums and was well aware of Santiago de Cuba and Havana Club Rums. My proficiency in Cuba based cocktails had also increased exponentially.
After one of my most memorable meals in Havana at San Cristobal Paladar, I was introduced to an anomaly. I had eaten an incredible meal and did not leave any room for dessert. My server asked if I would like a cigar in place of dessert...well, why not?! He proceeded to set me up with a fine Cuban cigar. He then asked if he could offer me a very special rum...a "limitada ron"...a "limited rum". He poured a healthy serving and then shuttled the bottle off before I could get a good look at it. At first, I thought it was some cheap stuff just to juice me up. With the first sip, I thought my taste buds were deceiving me...I took a swig of sparkling water and took pause...I took another sip...Superb! This was indeed a finely crafted rum! When the server returned several minutes later, I implored him to show me the bottle. He returned with the bottle and left it for me to enjoy.
If you know me then you know how much I love The Count of Montecristo . The thought of falling in love with this rum before I even knew what I was drinking..well that was just fortuitous. At that point, I knew I needed to find it. Unfortunately, I could not find it anywhere. Upon my return, I began my search for this mysterious Edmundo Dantes.
Edmundo Dantes is a Limited Production from Santiago de Cuba Distillery. Only 3000 bottles are produced annually. This distillery is the original Bacardi facility built in 1862. Unfortunately, the U.S. Embargo is still in effect, so it can not be shipped. I was not going to be denied. I located a bottle in Spain and asked a childhood friend living in England to order the bottle. After 3 months and over 12,000 miles...my very own Edmundo Dantes has found his way to the Barragan Bar.
If you are ever fortunate enough to find this rare beauty...Salud!
