Distillery – Brugal, Dominican Republic
Proof – All are 37.5% alcohol, 65 proof
Mashbill – Unknown, but they use molasses from the Dominican Republic






>>Brugal Añejo (añejo indicates a premium aged, dark rum)
*Aging – up to five years in used bourbon barrels of American oak with a medium toast
*Color – bright, light amber
*Nose – light on the nose, sugarcane almost a honey, just a slight hint of chocolate
*Taste – buttery, light honey, brown sugar, slight caramel with white pepper on the back
*Tasted with a raisin – sweeter and the pepper is gone
*Tasted with a peanut – it brought brought out a warmth to the beginning and was more savory, less sweet

>>Brugal XV
*Aging – a blend of rums aged 3-8 years in white American oak casks and rums aged 2-3 years in ex Pedro Ximenez sherry casks
*Color – bright, light amber
*Nose – sweet, molasses or sugarcane
*Taste – caramel, honey, molasses, citrus, dried fruit, small hint of white pepper on the finish
*Tasted with a raisin – more flavors seem to be popping out honey molasses brown sugar. Much fruitier, a hint of chocolate.
*Tasted with a peanut – a bit of smokiness, enhanced the sugarcane, and still a hint of pepper on the finish

>>Brugal Extra Viejo (extra viejo, meaning extra old)
*Aging – the rums in the blend are aged from 3 to 8 years in ex-Bourbon casks
*Color – bright, deep amber
*Nose – deep aroma, molasses, slightly smoky, hint of spice, dried fruit, cocoa, more complex
*Taste – vanilla and caramel, smokiness, touch of honey, finishes with a hint of cinnamon and white pepper
*Tasted with a raisin – molasses forward but the smokiness and complexity is limited
*Tasted with a peanut – very pleasant, smooth, sweeteness returned.

Ranking – Extra Viejo, XV, Añejo

Distillery – Ron Barceló, Dominican Republic
Proof – Each are 37.5% alcohol, 65 proof
Mashbill – Unknown, but they use 100% pure sugarcane harvested from their own plantations




>>Barceló Añejo (añejo indicates a premium aged, dark rum)
*Aging – aged for 4 years in ex-Bourbon oak barrels
*Color – bright amber
*Nose – molasses sugar, caramel, light spice
*Taste -baking spices, light molasses and fruitiness, hint of white pepper on the back
*Tasted with a raisin – the raisin muted many of the flavors, but brought the molasses forward and added a stronger white pepper finish.
*Tasted with a peanut – there’s just not much flavor and it seems to be all peanut.

>>Barceló Gran Añejo (gran añejo indicates a premium extra aged, dark rum)
*Aging – aged for up to six years in ex-Bourbon oak barrels
*Color – amber
*Nose – caramel, butterscotch, cotton candy
*Taste – honey, sweetness caramel, cotton candy, and baking spices (nutmeg) on the finish.
*Tasted with a raisin – chocolate, vanilla, caramel
*Tasted with a peanut –  caramel remains, hint of chocolate covered peanuts, caramel corn

Ranking – Gran Añejo, Añejo

Distillery – Ron Barceló, Dominican Republic
Proof – Each are 40% alcohol, 80 proof
Mashbill – Unknown, but they use 100% pure sugarcane harvested from their own plantations



>>Barceló Imperial Onyx
*Aging – aged up to ten years in oak barrels with a high toast degree, subsequently filtered from real Onyx stones to obtain a rum with intense, deep notes and a unique character.
*Color – deep amber
*Nose – toasted brown sugar and a woodiness
*Taste – like it’s been finished in a different style barrel very similar to what we get in bourbon, hints of cherry, vanilla, coffee, and nuts.
*Tasted with a raisin – loses some of the complexity it does, but molasses comes forward
*Tasted with a peanut – it’s a little hot as it leans towards a cinnamon finish or perhaps allspice

>>Barceló Imperial
*Aging – aged for up to ten years in lightly toasted oak barrels
*Color – copper, amber
*Nose – honey, slight caramel or butteriness, and a very light baking spice
*Taste – spices, caramel, vanilla, dark brown sugar or toffee, oaky, slight hint of white pepper
*Tasted with a raisin – more peppery, caramel, fruity, good with the raisin.
*Tasted with a peanut – sweet, woody and a pepper finish.

Ranking – Imperial Onyx, Imperial

Comparison and Ranking of Top Tastings

*Nose – Imperial Onyx, Extra Viejo, Imperial, Gran Anejo
*Taste – Imperial Onyx, Extra Viejo, Imperial, Gran Anejo

Discussion – Wayne and I felt that they are all good. If we were to take only one home with us, it would be the Barceló Imperial Onyx. If we could add a second one, it would be the Brugal Extra Viejo … and that is exactly what we did … bought two to bring home.

Carlos and the other bartenders were awaiting our thoughts. We shared and they didn’t disagree. When we asked what they drink, they each said, without a doubt, the Brugal Extra Viejo as it is HALF the price of the Barceló Imperial Onyx, yet outstanding.

Wayne and I have never been lovers of rum; however, our Punta Cana visit help to bring a new appreciation of this spirit as well as hone in on what we prefer in a rum. These will be a great addition to our spirit collection and a very nice occasional drink.