When I was a child Osmany Cardentey played at the skirts of a sugar center in Güines. Since then, everything that comes out of the cane generates an irremediable feeling of nostalgia.
Cardentey, 50, is part of a select group: it is one of the five candidates for Master Ronero in Cuba, an island where they currently only exert this position – heir of a centenary tradition – nine people.
In front of a multitude of barrels, within the San José de Havana Club ronera, the applicant says that for him, integrating the new generation is a “commitment” both with “activity” and his country.
“(It is) to feel the passion and be willing to defend that culture, which makes us unique as knowing how to make the rum of Cuba,” he says.
World Heritage
Knowing how to make the teachers of the Cuban light rum, a tradition of more than 150 years of history, was included in 2022 in the list of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by the United Nations Organization for Education, Science and Culture ( UNESCO).
The elaboration of this alcohol, which combines tradition and innovation, is carried out by these teachers “by force of the accumulated experience” that transmit their techniques to the apprentices “of a long process of assimilation and commitment to the culture of the rum”, as can be seen of the candidacy presented by Cuba.
These teachers form a community called Teacher Movement of the Cuban Ron, who participated in the elaboration of the candidacy.
One of them is Asbel Morales, who said, during a visit from the international press to the San José Ronera, that “there is no complete work” if “the way for the next generation” is not prepared. Morales also stressed that there is no defined time for an applicant to become a teacher.
Cardentey, for example, accumulates five years tanning in the “know -how” of the Cuban rum. “There are a number of requirements (…) you require a previous experience in the different stages of the process. Have a knowledge beyond the basic levels of cultural elements… ”, lists the applicant.
18 years with the rum
His work at the San José Ronera de Havana Club began practically along with its inauguration, in the San José de las Lajas municipality, 40 kilometers southeast of Havana, 18 years ago.
He began, the apprentice stands out, from the elaboration of the mixtures to being head of area, when he was finally invited to the quarry of the Roneros teachers.
“To the extent that you begin to discover the process, even when I start working, when I insert myself as such within this world is that you begin to discover things that you did not even know. And you start passionate and start that bug that attracts you and falls in love, ”he says excitedly.
The Cuban Ron Masters movement works as a brotherhood. It is currently integrated by five women and nine men.
Havana Club presents an “exclusive experience” with the cross between Cuban rum and Irish whiskey
Of these, two are “first teachers” – they have the highest level of skill and experience and act as leaders, coordinators and guides – seven are “teachers” and the remaining five are “candidates”, although they aspire to reach the range of ” Master ”of the light rum.
Santiago de Cuba, second largest city of the island, is the land of origin of the Ron and where in June 1996 a museum was opened to preserve the heritage related to this alcoholic beverage.
He was a Spanish, Facundo Bacardí, the creator of the first Ron factory in Cuba.
By: Juan Carlos Espinosa.
