This Monday, we joined Havana Club for an intimate mixology session at the Roost in New York City’s East Village to celebrate National Cocktail Day and National Cold Brew Day.
The Havana Club started as a family business in 1878, first registered in 1934, and quickly became a beloved and iconic Cuban brand with its well-rounded flavor featuring notes of tropical fruits and hints of vanilla and oak, a favorite of locals as well as American and European tourists flocking to Cuba’s chic nightspots and casinos from the late 1930s to the 1960s. HAVANA CLUB became one of the symbols of the razzle and dazzle of that Golden Age.
Held in The Roost, the private event was situated in the bar behind the daytime coffee shop; the rustic venue was decorated in Cuban influence with vibrant flora along with brand liquors and recipes for a perfect Instagram-worthy moment. In celebration of the cold brew cocktail partnership between The Roost and Havana Club, guests first enjoyed the Havana’s “Airmail” cocktails and hors d’oeuvres which included charcuterie plates and cheese, before learning how to make the signature Havana Old Fashioned with delicious Havana Club Anejo Clasico, black cold brew concentrate, Harlequin Orange Liquor, Bitterman’s Mole Bitters, Demerara Sugar Cube, and an orange twist. A dedicated bartender and brand ambassador gave a cursory introduction on the brand’s heritage and culture as guests were walked through step by step on making the limited-edition cocktail, from muddling sugar to mixing ingredients, and finally pouring over an Old Fashion glass. The result was a Cuban twist on the traditional Old Fashion with fruity notes of pineapple and apricot complimented with oak and a mixture of almond and vanilla, giving a sweet but impactful finish combined with an aromatic cold brew flavor.
The limited edition Havana Old Fashioned will be available on National Cocktail Day, March 24th through April at the Roost.
