Bacardi Anejo Cuatro Aged 4 Years. Every few years (or is it months?) Bacardi seems to unveil its latest “Premium” offerings. Earlier this year Bacardi once again unveiled some new “Premium” expressions in the form of a new 8 and 10 year old rum.

What took me by surprise was the inclusion of a new Gold rum aged for 4 years. It surprised me as it has landed right from release straight into one the UK’s largest supermarkets – ASDA.

Not exactly the home of premium rum. Having said that ASDA – like most other Supermarkets, has hugely improved its rum selection of late. You can now pick up the likes of Mount Gay XO and Appleton 12 with your weekly shop. Something which was unheard of just a few years ago.

Bacardi Anejo Cuatro is bottled at 40% ABV. It is currently retailing online at a shade under £25 which is the exact price it can be found for in ASDA. Bear in mind you won’t pay any P&P. They are also stocking the new 8 Year Old – which I will acquire and review soon.

For those unfamiliar with Bacardi beyond their White Superior they are a Cuban-born rum producer. They re-located to Puerto Rico at the time of the Cuban Revolution and have been exiled ever since. They have rum producing facilities in Puerto Rico and the Bahamas. Bacardi are known for their light Latin style rums. Their rums are produced on modern multi column stills. They don’t tend to use “additives” in their core range of entry level rums but they usually add some in their more Premium efforts. Aside from their gruesome Carta Fuego (a red Spiced Rum) they do not add excessive amounts of additives. In this instance the Hydrometer tells me around 8 g/L of additives.

I’ve reviewed most of Bacardi’s products – with varying degrees of success. Some I have really enjoyed and some have been dreadful. Although I have never spoken with Master Blender David Cid in any great detail I have heard him talk about how Bacardi can produce a heavier style of rum. To date perhaps the heaviest Bacardi rum I have tried would be the Bacardi Reserva which is most usually found in Travel Retail at Airports. Bacardi Gold/Carta Oro is fairly “boozy” as well though neither are really “heavy” rums.

So what are Bacardi offering for the £25? Well they have went for a more contemporary bottle shape with the Anejo Cuatro – the stubby style, with a slightly angular look. I like the design and I like the bold age statement on the label. Bacardi state this is fully 4 Years Old. So will it get people to part with what can be upto £10 when the Carta Oro is on offer? Let’s put it to the test.

In the glass Bacardi Anejo Cuatro is a “normal” golden brown colour with orange tinges.

Upon nosing I am immediately hit by the familiar “Bacardi nose”. I have noticed similar aromas across numerous Bacardi products – entry level and more premium. It’s a sweet clove like aroma mixed with tobacco and something which reminds me, strangely of a sandy beach.

Bacardi Anejo Cuatro is light – sweet influence of white wine, a little toffee custard and a hit of tar and some mild spicy notes with faint traces of oak.

Nose way in comparison to the Carta Oro it is less alcohol forward – smoother around the edges. It reminds me very much of the Major Lazer Limited Edition release. Are the rums in this blend a million miles away from that rum? The rum doesn’t suggest that. Very similar. This though isn’t as good though, its got less body and flavour.

Bacardi have advised this can be sipped and mixed. Sipping Bacardi Anejo Cuatro is not at all unpleasant. It is much less sweeter on the palate than on the nose.

It’s fairly light and inoffensive. There is some initial sweetness – cloves and a touch of almonds alongside some brown sugar notes. This gives way to a fairly nicely oaked mid palate. It’s quite zesty and the barrel ageing is noticeable giving some really nice elegant oaked notes.

Being a lighter rum the finish doesn’t really go very far. It quickly fades and whilst not unpleasant leaves a lingering note of tobacco as its only marker. It’s a touch thin and the standard 40% ABV is not really giving me anything to get too excited about.

Mixed it doesn’t seem as punchy as the Carta Oro/Gold in terms of “boozy” notes – I don’t mind the Carta Oro as it does pack a fairly decent punch and is not expensive. It seems to have been dialled down a touch in terms of overall flavour and complexity from the Major Lazer and the Reserva releases. I can’t help feeling it has been “smoothed” out a little too much and has lost some of its character as a result.

It makes a perfectly acceptable Rum and Cola but then again so does the Carta Oro.

I’m confused by this release to be honest. At the same time ASDA are stocking this they are also carrying a new 8 Year Old Bacardi Reserva Ocho which is just £5 more at £30. I’m not sure who this will really appeal to.

I just feel Bacardi are trying to re-hash the same old rums with new packaging. They aren’t offering anything truly “Premium” rums are anymore. No increase in ABV, no alternative finishes in cask other than Bourbon. No limited single cask or Pot Stills only bottlings etc, etc. Nothing just the same light and accessible rums.

It’s safe, predictable and whilst its not “bad” rum it just has Media Friendly Unit Shifter written all over it.

Same old, same old I’d buy the Major Lazer and the Reserva over this anytime and the new 8 to be honest for only a fiver more. Heck I’d rather pay £15 for Carta Oro when its on offer.

Sorry Bacardi but this is the Emporers New Clothes. You can’t keep re-badging the same old rum and claiming its the new “premium”.