The Arechabala family founded a distillery in Cardenas, in 1878. Later renamed Jose Arechabala S.A., the company created the Havana Club brand in 1934 and sold rum under that name in both Cardenas and the United States. The company was nationalized by the Castro government in 1960. Subsequently, the Arechabala family left Cardenas for Spain and the United States. Bacardi also produces a competing product with the same name in Puerto Rico, sold only in the United States.

Havana Club 3 Años has a light, straw color that reveals its age: every single drop has aged for a minimum of three years. The nose is a full bouquet of smooth aromas, with hints of oak, molasses and sugar cane. The taste is well-balanced and complex: a sweet, mild, fruity flavor with a light hint of citrus.