Barceló Añejo Rum

Review: Barceló Añejo Rum  (80.5/100)
a review by Chip Dykstra (AKA Arctic Wolf)
Refreshed March 2020

Ron Barceló was founded in 1930 under the name Barceló & Co in Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic. The rum brand quickly grew in popularity growing into one of the largest in the Dominican, and the brand is now exported world-wide to over 20 countries.

According to the USA Ron Barcelo website the Añejo rum is:

A refined blend of superior rums patiently aged in oak barrels .A refined blend of superior rums patiently aged in oak barrels. Supreme quality worthy of the noblest Dominican tradition.

Ron Barceló Añejo rum is distilled from fermented molasses, and bottled at 37.5 % alcohol by volume.

IN THE BOTTLE (4/5)

The RonBarceló Añejo bottle is shown to the left. It is a brown rectangular bottle with a mid sized neck and metallic pressed on screw cap. The light taper from the shoulders to the bottom makes the bottle easier to grab. The longer neck and generous mouth should makes it easy to pour without spilling. Unfortunately, there is a the plastic diffuser built into the mouth which I find quite annoying as I have to gently shake the bottle as I pour it which defeats the benefits of the long neck and wide mouth. I dislike diffusers which serve no purpose in my marketplace.

IN THE GLASS (8/10)

Once poured into the glass, the rum is the colour of light brown sugar. I gave my glass a quick tilt and a slow swirl, and I noticed very skinny legs which moved down the sides of the glass. The initial aroma brings fine wood spice and a touch of alcohol astringency into the air. Light notes of butterscotch and almond soon arrive.

When I allow the glass to breathe some of that initial harshness evaporates into the breezes, and I detect accompanying notes of vanilla, orange and banana peel, and light grassy tobacco.

The rum does indeed seem much nicer than my descriptions of 8 years ago would have implied.

IN THE MOUTH (48.5/60)

The rum is light bodied and lightly complex. A light butterscotch sweetness is wrapped in almond and vanilla with banana and orange peel and hints of treacle. There is also an overt grassy quality with hints of tobacco and menthol. There is a light bitterness running through the rum, which is offset by the light sweetness of butterscotch. Hints of baking spices and wood spices give the spirit a little pep in the mouth. Unfortunately there is also hints of raw alcohol which keep the score down.

I added ice and the hints of alcohol disappeared, however that light bitterness seemed to find more expression. When a splash of cola is added the rum seems to find a better home.

IN THE THROAT (12/15)

The rum is light bodied and has a short finish. Some herbal grassy flavours come forward as I swallow and a light butterscotch sweetness settles in accompanied with a light menthol sensation.

The AFTERBURN (8/10)

Barcelo Anejo Añejo Rum does indeed appear to have improved substantially. The spirit is not a wonder of complexity; but it can be sipped over ice and it serves well as a cocktail rum. Cuba Libre’s are definitely enjoyable, and if a few bitters are added the serving is even better. I also mixed a short cocktail (see down below) and was  quite happy with the result.

If you are interested in comparing more scores, here is a link to my other published Rum Reviews.

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Serving Suggestion

The Runner

1 1/2 oz  Ron Barcel Añejo
3/4 oz  Fresh lime Juice
1/4 oz Lemon Juice
1/2 oz Triple Sec
1/2 oz Sugar Syrup (1:1 ratio)
Ice
Lemon or Lime slice for garnish

Add the  Ingredients into a cocktail Shaker with ice
Shake until the outside of the shaker begins to frost
Strain into a chilled cocktail glass
Garnish with a slice of citrus
Enjoy Responsibly

Note: If  you are interested in more of my original cocktail recipes, please click this link (Cocktails and Recipes) for more of my mixed drink recipes!

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You may (loosely) interpret the scores as follows.

0-25     A spirit with a rating this low would actually kill you.
26-49   Depending upon your fortitude you might actually survive this.
50 -59  You are safe to drink this…but you shouldn’t.
60-69   Substandard swill which you may offer to people you do not want to see again.
70-74    Now we have a fair mixing rum or whisky.  Accept this but make sure it is mixed into a cocktail.
75-79    You may begin to serve this to friends, again probably still cocktail territory.
80-84    We begin to enjoy this spirit neat or on the rocks. (I will still primarily mix cocktails)
85-89    Excellent for sipping or for mixing!
90-94    Definitely a primary sipping spirit, in fact you may want to hoard this for yourself.
95-97.5 The Cream of the Crop
98+       I haven’t met this bottle yet…but I want to.

Very loosely we may put my scores into terms that you may be familiar with on a Gold, Silver, and  Bronze medal  scale as follows:

70 – 79.5    Bronze Medal (Recommended only as a mixer)
80 – 89.5     Silver Medal (Recommended for sipping and or a high quality mixer)
90 – 95         Gold Medal (Highly recommended for sipping and for sublime cocktails.)
95.5+            Platinum Award (Highest Recommendation)