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Puerto Rico | Aged | 40% ABV
Ron del Barrilito 3 Star rum is produced in Bayamón Puerto Rico by the Fernández family, which has been producing rum in the area since 1804, making it the oldest rum manufacturer in Puerto Rico. The rum is first blended and then aged for a minimum of 6 years.
A single barrel of Ron del Barrilito rum was set aside in 1942 called the 'Freedom Barrel.' When Puerto Rico gains its independence the Freedom Barrel will be opened in the Bayamón town square for all to share.
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Posted
6 years ago
Smooth and no alchohol bite. A slight caramel finish.
Posted
6 years ago
This one was another rum that I was hesitant to buy with such a wide disparity in the ratings. So I ignored all of the low ratings and plunked down $40 for my bottle today. I let it breathe for at least 20 minutes in a snifter. The aroma of light vanilla and light oak is wonderful and I could sniff this one all day. Then the first neat sip on the tongue had so much of a burn that it wiped out any of the flavors. Going down the pipe was a bitter burn. Treating this one at 43% ABV just like my Clement 6 year at 44% ABV, I wisely added an ice cube and let it sit for a few minutes. Ah, the burn on the tongue was gone so that I could taste vanilla, caramel, and oak. Going down the pipe still had a somewhat bitter burn, but not nearly as bad as being served neat. Just like the Clement 6 year old, this rum was made for consuming on the rocks in the hot tropical climate down there. Neither one has any added sugar. I would not dream of using either one as a mixer, especially at these prices.
Due to the high price and scarcity of it where I live, I realized that this very unique rum needs to grow on you. No other rum out of 80 tastes like this one. After the second glass later that evening with two ice cubes, the very strong smoky flavor is what originally puts off those new to this rum. Flavors are very assertive and this one is not for wimps. To give you an idea, following this one up with a different rum made Mount Gay XO seem downright nasty.
Many of us criticize the solera method, but that is only because of deceptive practices from many companies showing false ages. This company specifically states on the back of the bottle that their rums are aged between 6 and 10 years in charred oak barrels. It is their own 3-Star solera blend that supposedly remains the same year after year. The solera method greatly increases the odds of a company producing consistently similar results. Such is not the case with single barrels, which could be hit or miss. This company does not lie about the ages inside the bottle, but it is up to all of us to inform all the rest about companies with deceptive aging statements. Many of these have already been pointed out by fellow reviewers.
Posted
over 6 years ago
Sipped - neat
86 proof, gold Puerto Rico
Nose - strong peat, smoke
In mouth - bold, smoke, peat
Linger - peat persists
Don't believe this is a sipper for me, but might add flavor to a multi rum cocktail such as a Zombie
Posted
over 6 years ago
Väldigt bra för sitt pris men inte supergod sipping rum. Ok
Purchased both the 2-star and 3-star while in Puerto Rico. Really thought the 2-star was good for the price, but the 3-star had a weird plastic/medicinal flavor which ruined all of the good flavors. I have a 2nd bottle that I might try to see if the other one was just bad.
Ron del Barrilito 3 stars is an amazingly well-finished aged rum. Don’t be fooled by the awful packaging. This rum is a classic and one of Puerto Rico’s best hidden treasures! A must try!
Posted
over 6 years ago
I drink aged rum on the rocks and as aged rum goes this was my biggest disappointment yet. I am no connoisseur but I do drink aged rum regularly. I made a special effort to get a bottle on our trip to Puerto Rico and was really looking forward to trying it when I got home. I can't describe the taste other than somewhat medicinal. I have served it to my rum drinking friends and so far all have had similar reactions. My biggest disappointment so far in a generally well regarded rum.
Its a smooth cocktail that while I think its better on the rocks with lime..you may also have a splash (I mean just a splash of Coke (1oz)) and still maintain its full flavor. No hangover with this type of rum quality either.
Posted
over 6 years ago
The label is simple. The colour is reddish. Interesting taste with a herbal spine like clover honey. It is a bit harsh straight but with a splash of sprite it is enjoyable on a regular day before or after diner. Anytime you like.
Pěkný suchý rum, ve vůni oříšky, St. Anna. Příjemné pití
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The Best Puerto Rican Rum and a fantastic Spanish style Rum
8
/10
out of 10
This is a cult classic rum, so to speak, for those who have spent time in Puerto Rico. From what I hear it is quite difficult to locate for much of the US (and maybe the world?) but for some reason is abundantly available in most spirits stores in the Atlanta Metro area where I live. I am a big Atlanta United fan and hang out with a group of Puerto Ricans on game days. They recommended this rum to me. It took me a while to get around to it but I finally went out and bought a bottle a short while back.
The question I set out to answer is, Puerto Rican pride and cult vacation rum legend aside, is this actually a good rum compared to the wide world of rums across the spectrum of styles?
First, a bit about the rum. Ron del Barrilito is an old single family distillery native to Puerto Rico. It is not a “Cuban Exile Rum”, but rather a traditional Puerto Rican distillery. This particular rum is a blend of column still rums tropically aged between 6 and 10 years in American White Oak Sherry Barrels. It is not a Solera, but rather a blend of select individually aged rums. **Update** Although the rumproject lists this rum as containing 7gpL of added sugar, that is in fact not the case as the link in the reply comments below shows. Rather, like Barbancourt, a tiny amount (less than 2.5% of the total distillate) is set aside prior to aging in 25 wooden barrels and is mixed with locally sourced stone fruits and spices, but not sugar, grown on the island. This tiny portion of distillate is then mixed back to the blend after aging. No coloring is added. The color is achieved solely using longer aged (and naturally darker) rum to achieve consistency. This entire process is apparently explained and shown to visitors in open tours of the distillery.
On the nose I get Brown Sugar, deep rich Caramel, Toffee, Williams Pear, Molasses, Tawny Porto, and Raisins. I must say the nose is richer than I anticipated and the richness of the caramel is almost Foursquare level, though accompanied by different fruit notes. It is a very rich and synchronous aroma that fills the nostrils.
Taking a sip the palate mostly mirrors the nose but then adds a few more notes. On the palate I get a strong wash of Williams Pear and a deep rich Brown Sugar note. This is followed by Brown Figs, Caramel, Toffee, Tawny Porto, and hint of Lime peel. The palate comes across as extremely fruity but not funky - more like rich, perfectly aged dried fruit with a burst of fresh pear and brown sugar. It’s is quite harmonic and delightful.
The finish is medium long and is comprised of mainly Caramel and Toffee with a surprise hint of Raspberry. Nothing overly complex but still quite enjoyable from a “comfort standpoint”.
I must say, this is far, far better than I anticipated. I am rather surprised with how much I enjoy this rum. The total experience is very, very similar to the Cuban Havana Club Añejo Reserva but dare I say it is richer and better composed than that rum. This is a very enjoyable sip that continues to grow on you as you sip it. The harmonic balance between dried fruit, fresh fruit, and desert notes is very well done. I can enjoy all types of rum (pot and column; molasses, cane juice, and cane syrup; and aged and unaged) and for a Spanish style rum this ranks very highly for me. It is deep, rich and very comforting. It’s one of the very best Spanish style rums I have had maybe behind only Havana Club Seleccion de Maestros and Grander Single Barrel 8 Year. This is definitely worth the hype for those looking for the perfect aged Spanish style rum. Given that it is widely available to me I am going to be making this my go-to Spanish style aged rum. Well done Puerto Rico, well done indeed.
Short Description: a richer and simultaneously more balanced version of Cuban Havana Club Añejo Reserva. The perfect Spanish style dual purpose sipper and mixer
Nose: Brown Sugar, deep rich Caramel, Toffee, Williams Pear, Molasses, Porto, Raisins
Palate: strong Williams Pear, strong Brown Sugar, Brown Fig, Caramel, Toffee, Tawny Porto, hint of Lime Peel
Finish: medium length, Caramel, Toffee, faint Raspberry
ABV 43%
Country of Origin: Puerto Rico
Distillery: Hacienda Santa Ana en Bayamon