Cabeza Llena 1948/2025 - Cuba Single Cask Rum

Volume: 0.7 litres | Alcohol content: 49.1%

Special Features:

Decades of maturation in Cuba's tropical climate have shaped this molasses rum. Cabeza Llena was distilled in 1948 and bottled from a single cask in 2025 without dilution, at 49.1% alcohol. The bottle contains 0.7 litres and comes in gift packaging.

This bottling belongs to the Aconcha series and follows Hoy Como Ayer Cuba 1956. The artwork Cabeza Llena provides both its name and its label design. Aconcha's Afro-Cuban roots and the Orishas that accompany her art connect the design with the island's cultural history.

A rancio note reminiscent of long-aged sweet wine forms part of its mature character. Radiocarbon analysis confirms production before 1955, and therefore before the Cuban Revolution. This analysis alone cannot, however, establish the exact year of distillation.

Tasting Notes:

• Nose: Apricot, orange and prune combine with beeswax on the nose. The fruit has a fresh character, while the bouquet also recalls an old sweet wine such as Rasteau or Banyuls.
• Palate: The rum feels soft, delicate and lively on the palate. Very ripe banana and mango, roasted pineapple and melon shape the flavour. The texture becomes increasingly powdery, accompanied by cocoa and grated ginger. The mouthfeel recalls the skin of a vineyard peach.
• Finish: Orange and dark chocolate intertwine in the dense finish. Chestnut, date and dried leaves gradually emerge, while a persistent menthol freshness remains. The empty glass reveals fine woods, rice powder and lightly scorched sugar-cane syrup.

Distillery/Bottler:

The original Cuban distillery is no longer known. Behind the Aconcha series is La Maison & Velier, the joint venture founded in 2017 by France's La Maison du Whisky and Italy's Velier. La Maison du Whisky has specialised in whisky and rare spirits since 1956, while Velier contributes particular expertise in discovering and selecting rum.

The Aconcha series is devoted to old Cuban rums, pairing their selection with the artist's work. It began in 2024 with Hoy Como Ayer from 1956. Cabeza Llena is the second release, continuing this interplay between historic bottlings and Cuban art.

Facts: