Notes: Distilled in state-of-the-art stills, then aged in oak bourbon casks in Barraques (a form of stacking and aging of barrels seen in the production of brandies and cognacs) and bottled at 8 years of age, this rum is part of a series, the others ranging from a unaged white to this, their oldest offering.

Appearance: Sparkling wheat straw gold color clear with no hazing separation or floating sediments. Long legs and droplets develop on swirling.

First Impression: Spicy! Dried apples and pears, trace of nutmeg, toffee/caramel sweetish, caramelized molasses, flowers, almonds, light (Virginia?) tobacco, slightly drying nose (as opposed to sticky sweet).

Taste: Spicy, complex, slightly oily start sweetish, some muted flower notes, medium bodied. Nutty,spicy, fruit hint of leather and tobacco, with dryish,slightly vegetable pepper finish to it. Best analogy might be a piece of (not sweet) spice/ginger cake.

Drinks: Do not use in those umbrella drinks! Use it in a drink (if you must mix it) for more subtle potions that highlight the rum. Too subtle and understated to serve to novices or the unworthy.

Cigars: An Ashton or Credo, natural wrapper. Don’t want to overpower the rum.

Bottle/Packaging: Short rectangular hand blown glass bottle (shaped like a Woodford Reserve bourbon bottle but wider) with pressed-in seal/medallions at the neck front and back, silk-screened label in front and small paper label on the back (with serial number). Shows off the color of the rum nicely. Large stopper to with synthetic cork keeps bottle from leaking or getting cork bits (floaters) in the rum.

Final Thoughts: Rather complex, but a bit leaner than the Diplomatico series. An excellent example of a Dominican rum. Lots of complexity yet subtle, not overly sweet or thick.

Web site:  http://www.ronbarcelo.com or
http://www.internationalbeveragenetwork.com/SpecialReport/RonBarcelo

Alas, No English version. If you can read Spanish, it is quick loading, and somewhat informative. Easy-to-read and navigate. The second link is for a prospectus for importers and describes the other versions in English.