Barbancourt 8 Yr Old Haitian Rhum
Review: Barbancourt 8 Yr Old Haitian Rhum (84.5/100)
a review by Chp Dykstra (AkA Arctic Wolf)
Posted February 19, 2010
Rhum Barbancourt is distilled and produced by Societe du Rhum Barbancourt, in Port Au prince on the Isle of Haiti. As I write this review the country of Haiti is still reeling from the effects of the earthquake which struck the country on January 12, 2010. My thoughts and prayers are to the people of Haiti and I fervently hope that the current level of aid and help arriving at the island continues and the natural disaster does not turn into a cascading series of human failures. If you want to help Haiti please check this link for further information.
Howling Highlight: Let’s Help Haiti
Now if you have been paying attention you will notice that I have called The spirit a rhum rather than a rum. That is because the Barbancourt 8 Yr Old Haitian Rhum is produced in the ‘french’ Caribbean tradition. French Rhum Agricoles are produced from sugar cane juice rather than from molasses. This is the very first rhum I have encountered and so I am very eager to get started.
In the Bottle 4/5
The Haitian Rhum Barbancourt is presented in a tall brown flagon style bottle with a professional label and pressed on metal cap. The presentation is neither inspiring nor displeasing.
In the Glass 8.5/10
I was instantly surprised when I poured the rhum into my glencairn glass. The spirit is the colour of pale straw, slightly brown and slightly yellow. It looks more like an young whisky, than an aged rum. The nose, however, is very much like rum, with mild brown sugar aromas mixed with butterscotch. If I let the glass sit, I sense banana as well as a faint anise quality with maybe a hint of orange peel. All of this is very mild with even the oak aromas needing to be coaxed out into the open. I do seem to smell something very vaguely medicinal which may be part of that anise and orange peel I noted earlier.
When I swirled my glass I was happy to see nice long skinny legs forming on the sides of the glass.
In the Mouth 50/60
Upon my tongue the rum feels mildly soft and buttery. In fact I believe I can taste butter alongside the light brown sugar. For spices there is only light hints of cinnamon and oak tannin which begins to taste like anise and orange peel as I let it sit in my mouth. The spiciness is very mild. As I let the spirit rest in the glass and re tasted several times I decided that it was a quality of butterscotch which always seemed to rise above the other flavours to dominate the palate. Bananas and a very mild nutty flavour weave in and out as well.
I find the flavour very inviting, but I must admit that my temptation to mix the Barbancourt 8 Yr Old Haitian Rhum into a cocktail is very strong. The subtleties of the various flavours will mix very well.
In My Throat 13/15
It is in the throat that I started to notice the medicinal quality which perhaps I overlooked in the other areas of the review. The rhum is a little harsher in the finish than I was expecting based upon the mild flavours I encountered. It is a long finish which turns slightly dry. Again this dryness bodes very well for mixing cocktails.
The Afterburn 9/10
The Barbancourt 8 Yr Old Haitian Rhum is very mild and very delicious. Sipping he rhum neat is enjoyable, but when mixing, it becomes outstanding. The first rhum and coke I poured for myself knocked my senses for a loop it was so good. As well, I tried the spirit in various fruity cocktails and was never disappointed.
Suggested Cocktail
As stated earlier, The Barbancourt 8 Yr Old Haitian Rhum makes an outstanding rhum and Coke! I have no problem recommending any Cuba Libre style of bar drink for the rhum.
However, as I have a tendency to do, I could not resist building something brand new.
Haitian Joie
A cocktail by Chip Dykstra (Aka Arctic Wolf)
1 1/2 oz rhum barbancout
1 1/2 oz grapefruit juice
1/2 oz pineapple Juice
1/2 oz Orange Juice
1/2 oz Peach schnapps
1/2 oz Grenadine
Shake of over ice and pour into a glass of your choice
Garnish with flamed orange zest and an orange slice
In Case you are wondering about the name; Joie is french for delight. Therefore the name is Haitian Delight.
Aphelion said
Very glad to read the same rum I had just picked up by reccomendation will not dissapoint! I was fearing I wasted my money (it always so easy to judge by the bottle/label and someone elses opinion). I’m particular thrilled that this is a sugar cane rum made in the French style, because I had read about the Rhum Agricoles of Martinique (through Savuer magizine), but have never wanted wanted to pay so much for something I had never tried. So thanks for the reassurance by a great review!
I am surprised to see you have not ventured futher into Barbancourt’s older offerings, or into the world of Rhum Agricole. Since you seemed to like the Barbacourt so much, it must be calling your name.
Arctic Wolf said
Hi Aphelion
I know the perils of purchasing a rum (or Rhum) when the contents are unknown. I believe you will find the Barbancourt 8 to be a worthwhile purchase. I suspect I will eventually wonder into the older offerings from this distillery, but there are so many rums…and so little time to enjoy them all!
Welcome to my Blog! Your comments are always welcome.
Capn Jimbo said
Hello again. I’m pleased you finally got around to one of the very finest rums in the world, and available here for a mere $19.
Barbancourt is assuredly a cane juice rum that as Dave Broom put it “They don’t only produce rum; they make rum with a finesse that is almost unsurpassed in the world.”
Barbancourt is rarely entered into the commercial competitions and really doesn’t need to. If you click on my name (above) you’ll find a number of reviews of this incredible cane juice rum at The Project.
As far as mixed drinks go, Five Star is a bit too refined for them we’d say. The Three Star – much more reedy/caney – better represents the cane juice aspect which would be best represented in a Ti Punch.
Which should be the mixed drink of choice.
Arctic Wolf said
Hi Capn
This reply of yours ended up in my spam box, (probably a result of the link). I apologize if you had posted this much earlier but I rarely look in the Spam Folder.
I admit I was suspicious of Rhum Barbancourt until I tried the 8 year. There is much conflicting information (or misinformation) regarding this spirit out in cyberspace. I am glad I tried it for myself, and made up my own mind.
Cheers!
Gramps Philip said
Barbancourt 8 yr. is a very pleasant change from my
usual dark and gold rums.
The nose is missing, the palate/taste refreshing
and the finish – lasting rum uniqueness. Very good
as Fresca highball.
Old Rick said
Forty years ago the expats at the Grand Hotel
Olaffson would order a drink they secretly
(there was no other way) called a “Papa Doc.”
Essentially a Cuba Libre, but with Barbancourt
and Dr. Pepper. You may laugh, but try it; the
sympathetic fruitiness in both make a fun
combination.
Sendral said
I have an equal number of bottles of RB 8 and RB 15 and was thinking of mixing them to see what happens. Any thoughts?
Arctic Wolf said
Why not just mix an ounce of each in a glass first.
mark said
You must try Barbancourt White and the 15yr for posterity…in a mojito, the former’s spiciness is unique.