Ron Del Barrilito 3 Star

A smooth rum that drinks similar to a cognac. Aged in a traditional cognac method. Heavy notes of vanillin and oak. A touch of petrol on the first sip, finishes with a sweetnes.

My family is from Puerto Rico and had always told me about this rum. I finally got a bottle and I'm not disappointed! Great stuff!

Very nice rum. Highly recommend enjoying this rum straight.

This rum has a heavy smoky oak flavor and sweetness that are very nice on the palate. I enjoy sipping it neat, in the rocks or in a drink at 1 to 1.

I have grown partial to this rum while visiting Puerto Rico and I have not tasted anything else like it anywhere. It's bursting with smokey caramel vanilla sweet spiceyness along with strong barrel flavor as expected from its name. It'a best with some ice IMO and it's caramel sweetness is noticeably more than Don Q Gran Anejo, Bacardi 8, or Mount Gay XO. It's less sweet then Diplomatico RE. Ive acquired a taste for this stuff but I can see some people maybe not liking it at first because kit has a unique barrely spice in the finish. This is the pride of PR right here and some locals wouldn't rate it anything but a 10. Update: still nothin else like it but as I've started to sip other fine rums w little to no ice, the flavor of this rum in that manner is strange and treated to reach a strong flavor that is half good and half acid reflux. I still have some things to figure out here as far as how they make this and how I feel about it now. Update2: I still really like it as a mixer and the added taste seems like a fakish caramel addition. Update3: just came back from PR this rum is fantastic with mixed drinks and even on the rocks but not the best sipper IMO

...nothing compares to this smooth rum, in the leagues of the best Armagnac, however, made from sugar cane...

This was new in my liquor store and based on the reviews I had to try it. I have no idea how anybody could rate this a 9 or 10 but equally puzzling are the reviews below a 5. This is a "nice" rum. It's lacks distinctive overwelming notes, which is what I see now that I go back and look at the reviews. A lot of "smokey" (um okay - what is smokey?) Oak. Not so much. Carmel - maybe. It's not distinctive but it's not bad. It's smooth enough but not quite good enough for a sipper. Great mixer. A little strong alcohol smell but not taste. Doesn't burn as some suggest. I paid over $30 for this - and could have bought Kirk & Sweeny (12 year - my new old reliable) for a few bucks less. It's a few bucks more than Bacardi 8. It is a little more bland but perhaps easier to drink than Bacardi 8 (which has more distinctive flavors). I won't be buying another bottle for $30+ BUT if somebody offered it to me, I wouldn't make a face. I find the reviews on this to be among the most interesting (and perhaps puzzling) on the site. Recommend to try and see if you like but not if you have to spend $30+ for a bottle when you're old standby is sitting next to it on the shelf.

I'm confused as to why so many other ratings are so high for this rum. I purchased this rum due to the high marks on this website and I am left with a suspicion about the valitiy of some of these reviews.

Nose: Rubbing alcohol upfront with a hint of butterscotch, wood, and cumin spice with the cumin spice staying after the first drink.

Taste: alcohol burn and Turbinado Sugar and light oak with more alcohol burn on the finish.

This is a rum that has a prominent alcohol burn as opposed to a welcoming-ly smooth warmth in character that other rums I've purchased for less/equal money have given me.

Sherry, molasses and wood, plus some spice and enough heat to remind you that it's an adult beverage. Delicious straight up, but I'm going to try it in many tiki cocktails now that the warm weather has arrived. If it's as versatile as I suspect, this rating will get bumped up to nine. It's good stuff.

Being a screw top bottle from PR, I wasn't anticipating much. But to my surprise it was quite smooth, hits of smoke, mild fruit flavors, molasses and oak. I think I'll keep a bottle around. Very good for the price and one of the better PR rums.

The rum's aroma is a little intimidating. It has a rather strong alcohol odor making me think that it might be on the harsh side but upon tasting it I found it to be much tamer and smoother than the aroma seemed to indicate. It has a bit of initial sweetness with vanilla undertones which rapidly turns peppery. Quite the tongue tingler and at 86 proof it's a little stronger than the average rum.

I read somewhere that they source their rum from Bacardi, which goes to show that it's all in the aging process. Full flavored, dry, spicy, cinnamon, leather and delicious!

edited to add sugar test results- 7g

A great mixer with coke and dark fruit juices. Its also really good by itself. Lots of Caramel and a light spice with a little bit of butterscotch and toasted wood

One sip - Jesus Willy Christ - You could embrace the whole world.
What a tast! Simply the Best

It's harsh and not easy to drink by itself. Extra two points for an artisanal bottle.

This rum is not me in any way. The colour is light brown, the smell so and so, the taste gave me nothing, yet the aftertaste a little more live. But all in all, no thanks.

This rum has a spicy taste, with some smoke taste and I sense the hint of caramel. After delivery it seems to have a warm finish.. Not to shabby..

This is a particular Rum ! it seems more bitter than a rum.
Strong and intense smell.
The flavor is spicy and slightly bitter because caramel is very present, I suppose added in barrel.

It was closer to rubbing alcohol than rum will never willingly buy it again

I really wanted to like this rum, after all the hype. I could not get past the strange taste. Maybe it was the smokiness. It was somewhat harsh and not smooth enough for me.

A friend of mine mailed me a bottle brought back from his visit to Puerto Rico. It instantly ranks up there with my favorites. A distinctly different taste, smooth, strong, with something extra special, surely a hint of honey. Makes you wonder if islanders aren't keeping the best stuff for themselves, because from the looks of it, not easy to find state side! Once produced inside a windmill tower used to extract the juice from the sugar canes on the outskirts of Bayamon, today the office. In 1942, a single barrel, which is stored in the "cellar", was put aside with orders that it should only be opened when Puerto Rico becomes a free and independent nation.

I found this bottle in Lexington. It's comparable to any of the mid level rums from Puerto Rico, including Barcardi 8 and Don Q Anejo. A great taste and not too overpowering.

A touch oaky, not bad for tile style cocktails that are sweeter, i.e. orgeat, and or simple.. Not trying to hate on the 3-star, and honestly for the cost, its decent.

Smooth and refined, great finish, easy to drink. My go to rum!