try "santiago de Cuba " rum or the "HC anjeo oro", both are much better than the HC 7. having Cuban family in Cuba and visiting quiet often, this "apartied" you speak of exist in Nassau, Jamacia, Hati and many other tourist islands, it doesn't make it right but to single out Cuba for it is only partially taking the blinders off. But i digress, back to rum Cubay is also a good dry rum, all the rums i am mentioning are available as exports, for their are many of my favorite rums that do not get exported and that may be a good thing. LOL