Spirit Reviews
Absinthe Reviews
Bitters Reviews
Gin Reviews
Liqueur Reviews
Miscellaneous Product Reviews
Ready to Pour Cocktail Reviews
Rum and Cachaca Reviews
Tequila and Mezcal Reviews
Vodka Reviews
Whisk(e)y Reviews
Wine and Amaro Reviews
Home » Spirit Reviews » Review: Barcelo Rum
Review: Barcelo Rum
 Produced in the Domincan Republic from distilled sugar cane since 1930, it is only relatively recently that the Barcelo rum range has started to make a greater impact in the European markets. All four products are distilled in vacuum column stills before being aged in either ex-bourbon barrels or new white oak barrels and finally blended.
I usually like to undertake a comprehensive review of each product, testing in several different cocktails to offer some detailed thoughts. On this occasion I must admit to only having tried bite-size samples and thus my notes are limited to tasting neat.
Ron Barceolo Gran Platinum
Only launched in 2011, the Gran Platinum is a blend of rums aged an average of 6yrs before being filtered through charcoal to leave the end product colourless, giving the appearance of an unaged rum. Unsurprisingly given the relatively long barrel-ageing for a 'white' rum, the nose reveals a vanilla and oaky edge with more than a hint of cream soda. It smells nice enough but I can't help but think that 6yrs in the barrel has resulted in a loss of freshness that is so characteristic of 'white' rums. The PR copy for this product talks a lot of pineapple, green apple, hay, coconut water and condensed milk on the palate but I honestly struggled to find such an exciting line up of flavours. By no means is the taste bad, and it certainly is smooth, but everything just seemed a little muted and indistinguishable. I would however like to have a 'play' with mixing this rum as I suspect some good mixing might release a lot of the potential.
Also aged for 6yrs in ex-bourbon barrels, but not charcoal-filtered and presumably using a different blend to the Gran Platinum is the Gran Anejo. Distinguishable on the nose are aromas of vanilla, butter, candied peel and brandied cherries which excite the senses much more than the platinum. The palate is sweeter than the nose would lead you to believe, but still drier than the molasses-based rums that some may be accustomed to. The sweetness is relatively brief, and develops into a more complex and leathery taste with lighter sherry-like notes penetrating. The upfront and mid-palate are more impressive than the finish and include some nice spicy fruit and nutty elements, leading me to conclude that with the right ingredients this rum would mix well whilst also providing it's own character.
Aged for an average 10yrs in new white oak barrels, this is the signature product from Ron Barcelo that really shows off the style of this range beautifully. Rich and full bodied on the nose with aroma's of cinnamon, orange, apples and dates. There is a mild dry smokiness and hint of new leather that adds an intriguing complexity. Tasted neat it is very very smooth and perfectly balanced on the sweet-dry scale. Upfront is a full-bodied taste of chewy toffee and cocoa which becomes more complex as the rum develops in the mouth. A touch of pepper, oak and leather combine with the traditional 'rummy' tastes to make for a sophisticated yet very approachable rum. Perhaps a little flat on the finish but that is only in comparison to the huge up-front taste and there is still a good length to this rum. The full-bodied and couple flavours of this rum, combined with its relatively dry style mean I suspect it would mix wonderfully in drinks like the old fashioned where different bitters would pick out the huge range of flavours going on here.
Ron Barcelo is available to buy from Master of Malt.
★: Terrible, only drink for a dare.
★★: Meh, not undrinkable but best left alone.
★★★: Reasonable, middle of the road.
★★★★: Tasty stuff, well worth seeking out.
★★★★★: Incredible, booze doesn't get better than this. You need a bottle in your life.
John Weiss | October 4, 2013 at 7:32 pm
Finest rum I've ever drunk.
Rum Advent Calendar from Drinks by the Dram
Review – Drunken Berries Alcoholic Prosecco Mixer
Review – Jack Daniel's Single Barrel
Review – The Golden Age Blended Whisky
Review – Adnam's North Cove Vodka
Billy's Booze Blog
Bitters and Twisted
London Cocktail Society
Social and Cocktail
The Cocktail Lovers
Archive Select Month November 2017 (1) October 2016 (1) July 2016 (1) May 2016 (1) March 2016 (2) November 2014 (1) October 2014 (2) August 2014 (2) July 2014 (3) June 2014 (2) May 2014 (3) April 2014 (5) March 2014 (4) February 2014 (2) January 2014 (3) December 2013 (6) November 2013 (6) October 2013 (2) September 2013 (5) August 2013 (3) July 2013 (3) June 2013 (4) May 2013 (2) April 2013 (4) March 2013 (2) February 2013 (1) January 2013 (4) December 2012 (7) November 2012 (5) October 2012 (8) September 2012 (4) August 2012 (9) July 2012 (3) June 2012 (7) May 2012 (8) April 2012 (5) March 2012 (4) February 2012 (7) January 2012 (5) December 2011 (7) November 2011 (4) October 2011 (4) September 2011 (6) August 2011 (4) July 2011 (7) June 2011 (4) May 2011 (3) April 2011 (2) March 2011 (1) January 2011 (2) December 2010 (1) November 2010 (3) October 2010 (2)
© 2011 thecocktailgeek | Designed by Elegant Themes | Powered by WordPress