World’s most expensive rum on sale at Birmingham bar

A Birmingham bar has taken possession of a bottle of what is thought to be one of the world’s most expensive drinks.

A single bottle of Havana Club Maximo Extra Anejo costs a whopping £2,500.

The bottle, one of just two in the UK, has been acquired by Nick Taplin, chief executive of Black and White Hospitality, which owns Marco Pierre White’s Steakhouse Bar and Grill in The Cube.

The other bottle currently rests on the top shelf of a bar at The Shard in London.

Havana Club ensures exclusivity by limiting annual production to just 1,000 bottles.

Mr Taplin said: “I was recently on holiday in Cuba and we went to the Havana Club where this is distilled and blended. I instantly knew it would be perfect for our Birmingham bar and one of our diners who wanted to splash out on what is an exquisite bottle of rum.

“I did manage to have a taste of this rum while I was at the distillery and it was incredible. I wanted to give a rum lover in the Midlands a chance to enjoy it too.”

The rum, which has flavours of oak, fresh pear, dark chocolate and dried fruits, is part of the company’s Iconica Collection. It is handcrafted by blending the best and oldest rum reserves that have been left to age in Havana Club’s cellars, respecting the genuine tradition of Cuban rum-making, which is why so few bottles are crafted each year.

Just don’t ask for the Coke first.