Isla del Tesoro Rum

[Dom Costa]

During my trip to Cuba last december I've bought a beautiful book about rum history, written by Fernando Campoamor, a Cuban rum historian, called

"El Hijo alegre de la Caña de azucar". Inside the book I've found a picture of a rum called "Isla del Tesoro", I've asked around but nobody knew anything about it, I guess it's an old rum probably produced before the revolution, has anybody ever heard anything about it?

By the way with my recent additions to my bar's shelves, Zacapa Centenario Black Lable, St. Kitts white rum by Rotschild, and Daimoiseau 15 yo, I have now 70 rums on offer to my clientele, and I think they should be quite happy about it, don't you think so?

Dom Costa

ps. guess what? not very long ago Paul, PFMANF, came to visit me, we found out we live few miles away from each other...sometimes life it's strange , you live around the corner and you get to know each other via satellite in a forum on the web , amazing!!!!

[JOHN REEKIE]

Dom Costa...I put the same question to the forum, I think over a year ago ...I cannot find it again so it must have been before page eight. So its lost in the vaults and crevices of Egullet Bowels, and I dont know how to find it.

But I do remember I had read about "Isla Del Tesora",... Treasure Island... in a book "Six Days In Havana" by John Kings and James A Michener. John Kings wrote this book on their reasearch of Cuba for its part in the epic novel by Michener "Caribbean".

What I learned was that in a town just south of Havana was a rum made by "Boycoy". I can not remember the town. The time of their visit and research was just around (before or after) the Cuban Revolution. Boycoy then went on to make "Havana Club rums" for the new government. ....See www.rum.cz.com (Peters Pages) look up Cuba >Havana Club and you will notice at the bottom of the label the Boycoy Distillery name.

In recent years Boycoy has turned up in Puerto Rico and has started to reestablish a name for its self. It would be nice to think that an aged rum of the reputation they had in Cuba pre revolution might find its way onto the shelves again. I do not know what the connection with Cuba is with this new "Boycoy."

I wonder if Ed has any information on BOYCOY P.R.

When Michener went and knocked on the house with the cast iron Swans as balcony railings he was greated by the custodian, who gave them a tour of the rum storage area, This was followed by the tasting of a small round bottle of "Isla Del Tosora", from a dusty cardboard box designed & printed in the style of a Treasure Chest. In claiming that ..."this was very special rum and only for generals"....the custodian said ..."and today you are generals......" ( There was no coment on what the rum was like).

Try and find the book, the part on Boycoy Rum & "Isla Del Tosora" is only a couple of pages, But with photos of the bottle, the box, the custodian, and the 'swans.' Its also a fasinating book to read on Cuba of the 50-60's. Look for..."Six Days in Havana"... ISBN # 0771058683 by John Kings & James A Michener, Pub 1989. Look up the Internet second hand book sellers, it turns up there once in a while. The 'swans' turn up as an ilustration in 'The Caribbean' with the chapter on Cuba.

I have been looking for a copy of EL ALEGRE DE LA CANADE AZUCAR for a while. Do you know if it was ever translated/printed into English. I have seen it sometimes available through the internet booksellers, but no word if in English. Also has Fernando Campoamor writen any other rum books, sugar books preferable in English.

Sorry I have no other imformation on this rum!

Always Rumsearching!

[Dom Costa]

Very interesting, thanks, I will look up for that book. As far as Campoamor's book, I doubt it was ever translated in english and I had problem myself in finding a new edition in Cuba as well, in fact I had to buy it second hand in a flea market.

I have also asked if he has written other books about rum, but in the few(..and almost shelves empty ..) government's book stores nobody knew anything ...

Thanks for your help anyway

Dom