Barcelo Imperial Onyx

I just returned from a trip to La Rommona, and a tour of the Barcelo factory. And discovered his wonderful rum. The extra char in he barrels gives this rum whiskey flavor, with hints of vanilla. Great on the rocks, or with a splash of coke.

Ron dulce excelente para tomarlo en la rocas! Lo recomiendo.

Aromes vanille, amende et un epu se réglisse dans un second temps.
Manque de longueur en bouche.

An easypeasy rum to have a little sip. Good to drink a little with friends to introduce them to your collection, but nothing special really.

The aroma is very pleasant, smooth, and unmistakably Dominican. It’s rounded, with a complex depth.

As for the flavor, it's wonderfully rich and velvety, with the prominent note being salted caramel on my palate. The buttery toffee notes are lush, with a decadent “extra butter” sort of feel. There are also an intriguing hints reminiscent of Cuban cigars. While not salty per se, this rum carries a savory, slightly "salty" twang. Additionally, the flavor offers a delightful and quite clear mix of sultanas and molasses, with a whisper of orange. Every drop from my glass packs a punch of flavor, whilte still being quite mellow and smooth. The more I indulge, the more the complexity reveals itself.

The finish unveils clear tones of oak, somehow reminiscent of "Innis & Gunn" ale. It’s slightly malty, just sweet enough (but not at all overly sweet) to maintain balance, with no trace of smoke. The finish is long, warm, and layered with rich notes of sultanas and oak, delivering a complex and beautiful aftertaste.

In summary, this rum is a standout, far exceeding my expectations – especially at this price point. I confidently rate it an 8, regardless of price. While it may not be the best rum I’ve ever tasted (there are also “9s” and “10s”, reserved for exceptional quality regardless of price), the value here is undeniable. At only $43 (as of September 2024 from Systembolaget), it offers an absolutely remarkable bang for the buck. In comparison, I used to think that Plantation XO provided the best "value for money" in the world. That's still great, but Imperial Onyx is even cheaper - and dare I say different (no coconut, not as complex), but every bit as good.

In summary: buy a bottle, savor it – and then make sure to stock up. You’ll want to keep this one on hand at all times. Just as a bonus, it won’t cost you a fortune to do so.

(from the Barceló website): "rums aged up to ten years in oak barriques with a high toast degree, subsequently filtered from real Onyx stones..." I find the filtration technique interesting and less likely to be just another gimmick as onyx is a porous stone and is actually capable of absorbing water and liquids easily. But does it impart anything back into the rum?

I opened this rum along with the other two that I brought back from the DR (Brugal Leyenda and Club Puntacana). Between the three, the Barceló was noticeably the least appealing to all of us that sampled the bottles. Even though all three came in at 38% ABV, the Barceló seemed like its alcohol content was a little higher due to its thinner consistency and lack of any lingering aftertaste beyond the alcohol and oak.

I found the Barceló Imperial Onyx to be unremarkable and nowhere near a top shelf sipping rum. It's the closest I've came to drinking Jack Daniels whiskey while hoping to enjoy rum.

What a great rum to introduce me to the world of sitting back and sipping a nice rum.
Not too sweet with a nice and smooth finish. Great quality rum for the price.

Beautiful dark color. Aroma of burnt caramel, leather, charred oak. A wonderful taste to match. I suspect it's been lightly dosed, but it's very tasty. Light lingering brown sugary flavor.
Very good.

Very thick mouthfeel, sweet and almost syrupy. Very dark in color, must have a bucket load of coloring. Easy and nice, but nothing to remember by.

A slightly better version of Barcelo Imperial. Black bottle and the name represent the additional filtration through onyx stones. Really good rum to sip with a low price tag. Always in my cabinet.

Note: if I could give a .5 rating, I'd rate it 8.5