These three hypnotic words evoked tropical Cuba in American minds for most of the 20th century. As a corollary to being the world’s largest sugar producer, Cuba became the capital of a major rum industry dominated by distilleries such as Jose Arechabala’s Havana Club and the House of Bacardi. Simultaneously, Cuban cigars – long acclaimed for their rich flavor derived from the unique quality of the island’s soil and climate – were recognized as the world’s best.