Barbancourt 5 Star Reserve Especiale 8-Year

Nice rum. I prefer the darker rums but had the opportunity to sample it.

As a regular Barbencourt 4 star drinker, I thought I'd try the 5 star. This is some fine rum but the 5 star starts to tase a little oaky. A flavor I don't care for that's why I drink Run not Whisky.

Trust me daddy...you don't mess with thiz bottle. Go from 0 to a 100 degrees real quick. Hot product and proudly haiyian made.

This would be a great place to start trying agricole. It's probably the most similar to molasses rum you'll find in the agricole group. Absolutely delicious. Don't expect a normal rum though this has the grassy funk you would expect from an agricole but it's still so smooth. It can really transform some cocktails and give a twist you weren't expecting but is probably better when sipped on it's own.

Definite quality rum. It's great on the rocks - you can sip it also. i want to buy another bottle; it is a bit pricey coming from Haiti.

My single previous sampling of Rhum Agricole was a disappointing experience and
I didn't have high expectations when I sampled Barbancourt 8 yr Rhum. This Rhum is dry (my preference) but at the same time slightly sweet with some oak in the finish. I actually really enjoyed this Rhum and will definitely add it to my Rum cabinet. The fact that this Rhum sells for under $40 CAD in my area is an added bonus.

This is my first agricole. This Rhum provides a very different experience from what I'm used to and makes for a great variety piece to add to my young shelf.
The color is a light gold and the body is a bit thin for my taste. There's a bit of early burn but it fades very quickly, especially as it mellows in the glass.
Where this Rhum stands out to me is the dry taste and earthy notes. The aged smoky taste sneaks in every once in a while.
This won't be the first bottle I grab, but it will firmly belong in the rotation.

This rum is very smooth as compared to the Barbancourt younger runs. The taste is also very nice. The aftertaste ruined it a bit for me. It's the first rum I tasted with a charcoal aftertaste.

Un rhum puissant, pur jus et pas pour les diplomatiqueux. Brûle presque pétrolifere pourrait le caractériser, avec de la banane flambée sur le verre vide. A ne pas mettre sur tout les palais !

Original 5/17 - This rum is very good; I like it a lot. It's exceptionally smooth, and sweet enough to satisfy most palates. (It's also pretty reasonably priced.) But it's just not that exciting.

It's also quite a bit sweeter than I was expecting for a French-style rum, but it's a great contrast to the world of AOC Martinique Rhum Agricole I've so far only dabbled in. (This is agricultural rum made from sugar cane juice, but not produced in the same region or according to the same rules or processes as most most other agricoles, hence the rather large difference in character and price. To me, Barbancourt is like an agricole that skews toward Spanish-style rums.)

I'd wager this bottle is a crowd-pleaser (I'm rather surprised the rating is so low... who would give this a 4?!), and would be thrilled to arrive at a party where a giant bowl of Barbancourt Rum Cup was being served!

7+

Update 1/18 - For once I completely agree with my initial review :) Here's the update after revisiting it alongside Barbancourt 3, 5, and 15-years.

43% ABV. Very slight nose. Less brine than its younger siblings, more oak and caramel. Still some fruit. Very smooth. But not very exciting. Dull. Medium-short finish.

This rum displays neither the youthful exuberance and freshness of a young agricole, nor substantial refinement from wood aging. The 5-year is good. The 15-year is delightful. The 8-year sits between them, but rather than being a Goldilocks rum ("just right"), it stops at merely being not too much of anything at all. It's too weak, and too timid.

Still, as a mass-produced rum, it's fine. I heartily recommend it. But personally, I see no reason to get this one over either the 5- or 15-year.

7+