Matusalem Rum

MatusalemRum

Introduced in Santiago de Cuba in 1872, Matusalem Rum was the preferred rum in Cuba for its exquisite taste and smoothness.

Matusalem’s reputation spread the world over when Cuba became the destination of choice for celebrities and trendsetters from the 1930s through the 1950s. However, with the rise of the Castro revolution, Matusalem Rum manufacturing was stopped in Cuba and moved to the Dominican Republic.

Known as the “Cognac of Rums,” Matusalem Gran Reserva is Solera aged for 15 years and can be enjoyed straight up or on the rocks. It is the perfect choice for those looking for exceptional quality and sophisticated taste in a super premium rum. Gran Reserva is complex, yet velvety smooth, with an exceptional bouquet and flavor.

Matusalem Clasico is an exotic and classic Cuban golden rum, crafted from select rums aged in New World oak and Solera aged for 10 years. It possesses distinctive quality and exceptional smoothness that enhances the flavor of any cocktail. Clasico is exotic, magical and powerful.

Matusalem Platino is a unique blend of triple-distilled, handcrafted spirits, combined in a special process and then filtered and refined to create rum of exceptionally clean taste, delicate balance and subtle flavor. It is a discerning trade up for standard rum drinkers and a sophisticated alternative for premium vodka drinkers.

History

Matusalem & Company was founded in 1872 in Santiago de Cubato offer the highest quality, smoothest tasting rums in the world. While the company has seen tremendous changes over the decades, the commitment to quality rum has remained the same.

Two Spanish settlers, Benjamin and Eduardo Camp sail from Spain to Cuba with the intention of establishing a rum distillery. In 1872, the brothers, along with their partner Evaristo Álvarez, establish the Matusalem brand in Santiago de Cuba using a closely guarded secret formula. They combine their skills and expertise in the distillation and blending principles of the Solera system, which was originally developed to produce Spain’s famed wine, sherries, brandies, and cognacs.

The name “Matusalem” is chosen to impart to connoisseurs a sense of the ageing process necessary to achieve the rum’s unique flavors. It is from the popular Spanish proverb “Esto es mas viejo que Matusalem,” meaning “It’s older than Methuselah.” Methuselah is the Old Testament patriarch who is said to have lived for 969 years.

In 1912 Benjamin Camp returns to Spain, leaving the company in the capable hands of his brother and Evaristo Alvarez. Claudio Alvarez LeFebre, son of Evaristo Álvarez, joins the Company. Evaristo Álvarez’
daughter marries the son of Eduardo Camp — forever uniting the two families.

For the next 25 years, Claudio Álvarez LeFebre leads the company. His rum production knowledge and expertise, along with his good judgment and administrative skill, help the company thrive. Cuban rum catches on in world markets. It is the start of Cuba's "Golden Age of Cocktails". Due to prohibition, Cuba becomes the American tourist destination of choice.

Matusalem Rumenjoys continued international success. Claudio Álvarez LeFebre asks his only son, Claudio Álvarez Soriano, to join the company. Schooled in the U.S., the young Álvarez’ management and marketing skills take Matusalem Rum to the next level of success.

Matusalem captures an amazing 50% of the lucrative Cuban rum market, but 1956 is a difficult year. Claudio Álvarez LeFebre passes away, and six months later, his grieving son Claudio Álvarez Soriano dies of lung cancer. Their passing leaves the Company, in the midst of its success, without real leadership.

That same year, Fidel Castro renews his guerilla war against President Fulgencio Batista. In 1959,Castro seizes control of the Cuban Government. The days of the Matusalem brand as a Cuban-based enterprise are numbered. It is the end of an era.

The Alvarez family, the company and Cuba are utterly changed - forever.

The family is forced into exile, and the family-owned and operated business is relocated to the United States by three branches of
the family. Family feuding begins over control of Matusalem; the brand is neglected.

Claudio Álvarez Salazar, great-grandson of the founder, begins his medical studies in the 1970's as various groups struggled over control of the Matusalem brand.

In the 1990's, following a successful medical career, Dr. Claudio Álvarez litigates for control of the Company. An out-of-court settlement in 1995 rewards Dr. Álvarez with Matusalem & Co. In 1997, Dr. Alvarez begins building the framework to re-launch the Matusalem brand worldwide. In 2001 Dr Alvarez re-positions the portfolio, focusing solely on premium rums in an effort to return to the company's roots. In 2002, Matusalem Rum is relaunched.

Today, Matusalem Rum is produced in the Dominican Republic, whose soils and climate create the highest quality sugar cane which is used in the family’s secret formula, under the watchful eyes of the master blenders. These master blenders are all descendants of the founders, and are faithfully committed to maintaining our centuries old technique of Solera blending.

In the Solera blending process, various mature aged Caribbean rums are carefully blended with more exuberant rums to create exceptionally smooth, unique blends.These rums are still produced in the Cuban tradition of limited quantities, under the same exacting standards established by the brand's founders over a century ago.