Ron Barceló Imperial Onyx.
One of my first “Premium” rums was a bottle of Ron Barceló Imperial that I picked up for around £12 in Gibraltar circa 2012.
At the time I was fairly pleased with it but as my experience grew I found myself less enamoured by the rum. I reviewed it back in 2017 by which time my perception had changed quite dramatically.
In the UK you will occasionally see Ron Barceló rums but it is not a brand which has been taken up by any of the big pub or restaurant chains to the best of my knowledge. It’s presence in the UK is fairly low key.
However, for anyone who travels outside of the UK and into Europe it is often present at the AIrport Duty Free. This bottling I am reviewing today I have seen numerous times when visiting Spain especially. The brand is pretty popular over there.
In the UK a bottle will set you back around £45 but if you are a regular traveller you are best picking it up at the Duty Free. I picked my bottle up from Amazon for £30 in a sale. Curiosity as much as anything and to maybe mix up the reviews a little.
Ron Barceló Imperial Onyx comes in a very wide flask style bottle with a short stubby neck. The cork stopper has a large ornate plastic topper. You also get a cut out card sleeve to house the rum.
Ron Barceló Imperial Onyx comes in a 70cl bottle coming in at a slightly disappointing 38% ABV. So only just above the legal limit. Quite common for Dominican rum though.
There is no information regarding the rum on the bottle or the cardboard sleeve. So its off to their website for some information. First thing that hits me is that the site claims Ron Barceló is the most exported Dark Rum in the world. Which seems a slightly odd (and difficult really to judge) claim to make. Dark Rum? Hmmmm
Anyway, I have found the following information regarding this rum
“The result of the finest selection of rums aged up to ten years in oak barriques with a high toast degree, subsequently filtered from real Onyx stones to obtain a rum with intense, deep notes and a unique character.
Notes on tasting
Mahogany colour with amber shades.
With a robust, structured body and of great character. Toasted fragrances, with a subtle hint of cherry, coffee and nuts. Intense sensations of wood and vanilla with a persistent aftertaste. An aged and complex rum that delights all the senses.
Ideal for
To be enjoyed used for the preparation of classic and contemporary cocktails. 750 ml and 700 ml presentations.”
So not a great deal of information. Ron Barceló say that their rums are made from the finest Sugar Cane Juice. Which like their Haitian neighbours might suggest something akin to Agricole Rhum.
What Ron Barceló do
n’t tell us on the website is the method of distillation. Industrial Multi Columns. So not the traditional Coffey Column Still’s used in Agricole.
So with my information exhausted I think I will pop that chunky cork and see what this is like.
In the glass the rum is indeed pretty dark – almost a mahogany colour. Coloured a little? Most likely – nearly all continuously produced rums are coloured to some degree for consistency, if nothing else.
The rum gives off a nice aroma – dark chocolate, a touch of cocoa, some plums and other dark fruits. There is a sweetness and a lighter touch as the rum settles in the glass.
Further nosing I’m getting some leather and cigar smokiness.
Despite the dark colour of the rum and the desire to be rich and decadent it isn’t as “deep” as I think they want us to believe. It’s still got a sweet light Spanish style aroma.
I’ve checked the Hydrometer and it bobbed at 38% ABV but I wouldn’t be surprised if their is a touch of Glycerol/Glycerin.
Taking a sip it is less interesting than the nose suggested. Much of the coffee and leather aromas are over taken by a sweeter note. It tastes more like something that has been made to feel old rather than actually long aged. I dare say there is a fair bit of a stretch going on with the “up to 10 years” claims.
It’s sweet but not overly so but it gives a fairly standard Spanish style rum flavour which you can find for a lot less money. Even they note this is for cocktails.
There really isn’t a great deal going on with this. It’s entry is fairly nice with a little bit of spice but the 38% ABV isn’t doing it any favours.
I usually comment on the mid palate and the finish. Unfortunately the main downfall for this is how short the overall experience is. It disappears very quickly and d
oesn’t leave much behind once swallowed. A very slight burn which quickly fades – sweet and inoffensive.
I’ve mixed it a Rum and Coke and its okay. At the price point it should be. That said I’d be happier with their own Anejo or Gran Anejo if that is all I was going to do with it.
They offer up Premium Cocktails to try on the website but in all honesty this rum doesn’t have enough about it to really enhance anything. So I’ll give that a miss.
I’m not disappointed or surprised by this rum. It’s not unpleasant but just doesn’t justify its price point in anyway shape or form. Which sadly means I’m going to give this very average rum a slightly below average score.
Another one for the Pretty Bottle Brigade. Not for me though.
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