Barbancourt 5 Star Reserve Especiale 8-Year

My single previous sampling of Rhum Agricole was a disappointing experience and
I didn't have high expectations when I sampled Barbancourt 8 yr Rhum. This Rhum is dry (my preference) but at the same time slightly sweet with some oak in the finish. I actually really enjoyed this Rhum and will definitely add it to my Rum cabinet. The fact that this Rhum sells for under $40 CAD in my area is an added bonus.

This is my first agricole. This Rhum provides a very different experience from what I'm used to and makes for a great variety piece to add to my young shelf.
The color is a light gold and the body is a bit thin for my taste. There's a bit of early burn but it fades very quickly, especially as it mellows in the glass.
Where this Rhum stands out to me is the dry taste and earthy notes. The aged smoky taste sneaks in every once in a while.
This won't be the first bottle I grab, but it will firmly belong in the rotation.

This rum is very smooth as compared to the Barbancourt younger runs. The taste is also very nice. The aftertaste ruined it a bit for me. It's the first rum I tasted with a charcoal aftertaste.

Un rhum puissant, pur jus et pas pour les diplomatiqueux. Brûle presque pétrolifere pourrait le caractériser, avec de la banane flambée sur le verre vide. A ne pas mettre sur tout les palais !

Original 5/17 - This rum is very good; I like it a lot. It's exceptionally smooth, and sweet enough to satisfy most palates. (It's also pretty reasonably priced.) But it's just not that exciting.

It's also quite a bit sweeter than I was expecting for a French-style rum, but it's a great contrast to the world of AOC Martinique Rhum Agricole I've so far only dabbled in. (This is agricultural rum made from sugar cane juice, but not produced in the same region or according to the same rules or processes as most most other agricoles, hence the rather large difference in character and price. To me, Barbancourt is like an agricole that skews toward Spanish-style rums.)

I'd wager this bottle is a crowd-pleaser (I'm rather surprised the rating is so low... who would give this a 4?!), and would be thrilled to arrive at a party where a giant bowl of Barbancourt Rum Cup was being served!

7+

Update 1/18 - For once I completely agree with my initial review :) Here's the update after revisiting it alongside Barbancourt 3, 5, and 15-years.

43% ABV. Very slight nose. Less brine than its younger siblings, more oak and caramel. Still some fruit. Very smooth. But not very exciting. Dull. Medium-short finish.

This rum displays neither the youthful exuberance and freshness of a young agricole, nor substantial refinement from wood aging. The 5-year is good. The 15-year is delightful. The 8-year sits between them, but rather than being a Goldilocks rum ("just right"), it stops at merely being not too much of anything at all. It's too weak, and too timid.

Still, as a mass-produced rum, it's fine. I heartily recommend it. But personally, I see no reason to get this one over either the 5- or 15-year.

7+

My first "Rhum" Agricole so I can't compare it to others of this type. I will say that it's very smooth and not very sweet which I expected. The base flavor reminded me of RL Seale's 10 year but with less complexity of leather, oak, and vanilla if that makes sense. There is an earthy natural flavor to this one that I wouldn't describe as bad, but I will use it as a mixer just because I personally prefer more sweetness in rums that I drink neat or on the rocks. Smokey and grassy is how I would describe this as well. Smooth rum overall.

Nothing stands out as extraordinary, and doesn't have the complexity of other aged Rums. Taste of sugarcane and oak with a touch of raisins. Still works as a sipper for me and I personally wouldn't mix it, as it has a nice, distinct taste (only for Kremas, where it works beautifully).

I don't care if this undermines my rum qualifications but this is my only Mai Tai rum. Grassiness marries with Pierre Ferrand dry curacao elegantly and the wood the Barbancourt takes on stands up to the heaviest dem syrup and orgeat. You can drink a cocktail with only 1.5 ounces of Barbancourt and 6 ounces of juice and not forget that you are drinking rum when you're drinking it. Barbancourt all day my babies.

Barbancourt 8-year is the tiki rum of choice for many an exotic cocktail. It blends exceptionally well with fruit, but is refined enough to make a perfectly acceptable sipper.

Of all my rums, this one has the most unique taste. I love its crispness and the herbaceousness it brings. I like to mix it with fever tree ginger beer.