Havana Club Icónica Collection: The legacy of Don Navarro

A collaboration by Rachell Cowan Canino

Don Navarro is always present in the minds of his colleagues in the Cuban Rum Masters Movement. A leader, friend, and elegant man of immense wisdom, when his death became imminent in 2022, they embarked on the task of immortalizing Pablo Navarro’s personality in a light rum.

Thus, Don Navarro was born, a rum belonging to the Havana Club Icónica Collection.

In a family atmosphere, just as the Maestro would have liked, the tasting of the spirit, featuring a redesigned bottle, was part of activities at the 2025 Havana International Fair. As a final touch, the rum was paired with a Romeo y Julieta Wide Churchill, Navarro’s own favorite vitola, creating a harmony that celebrated his two great passions.

During the presentation, Asbel Morales recalled that “This rum was launched in 2022 as a tribute to the master of masters. His image, his figure is there and will be immortalized for all time, not only in Havana Club but in Cuban rum.” The expert emphasized that the new image maintains the essential requirements established since its creation: “That it resemble Navarro, simple in its presentation. The rum remains the same, with the same blend, the same rum as always, but with the new image.”

Juan Carlos González, another of the master rum makers, revealed details of the production process: “It was a complex process to which all the best masters were invited. And it was truly beautiful when we all unanimously selected the same base for this product.” This work falls within the knowledge recognized as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO, a distinction that honors the tradition of the Masters of Cuban Rum.

Those attending the tasting were able to appreciate the characteristics that define Don Navarro as a rum with an austere yet elegant personality, with a flavor profile that reflects the very essence of Cuban rum-making tradition. The tasting confirmed that, despite the redesign of its packaging, the quality and essence of this liquid tribute to Master Navarro remain unchanged, preserving the enduring character that so distinguishes the products of Havana Club’s Icónica Collection.