Buy Matusalem

Matusalem was founded in Santiago de Cuba in 1872 by the Camp brothers, and after the family left Cuba the brand relocated production to the Dominican Republic, where the rums are made today. The name nods to biblical longevity, fitting for a house built around the solera method, in which older and younger rums are gradually blended through a stacked system of casks.

The range covers most price points. The white Platino and the young Solera 7 Años are aimed squarely at cocktails, the Clásico sits near standard Bacardi and Havana Club money, and the Gran Reserva 15 Años is the everyday sipper most members reach for. Above it, the Solera 23 Años adds smoothness and a touch more nuance, and the Insolito Wine Cask and Sublime push into finishing experiments and limited-edition territory.

Expect a soft, rounded Spanish-style profile: vanilla up front, caramel and butterscotch, toasted coconut, sweet spice and a woody, sometimes drying finish. Reviewers describe the whole line as mild with little alcohol burn, which makes it forgiving for newcomers but light on intensity for seasoned drinkers. The 15 Años, at its best, earned praise for clean classic aromas; the 23 Años split opinion between smoothness and a somewhat flat finish.

For drinking, the 7 Años shines in a Dark and Stormy with ginger beer and lime or in a mojito, while the Platino handles a fruit punch. The 15 and 23 Años work neat over an evening, and their vanilla character suits festive baking and after-dinner pours. If you want to buy Matusalem, the sweet spot on value tends to be the mid-range rather than the top shelf.