Barbancourt 15 Year Old

    Réserve du Domaine and Estate Reserve

Objective Notes
Very Smooth (on the RnD scale of Harsh-Smooth-Very Smooth-Extremely Smooth)

A brilliant mahogany amber color is but the first clue that you are about to experience an exceptional rum.  Aromas include beautifully soft scents of caramelized brown sugar that manage to intoxicate without overwhelming your senses, a light molasses aroma adds depth of character, oaken vanilla and notes of dried fruits (raisin, dried apricot, orange) are evident, as is a slight cane earthiness, subtly spiced with clove and cinnamon.  Those wonderful aromas prepare your mouth for a nicely complex suite of flavors delivered in direct proportion with those your nose detected, but smoothed with a touch more vanilla.  A medium weight body integrates heavy alcohols well into the overall liquor, allowing the flavors spread slowly and elegantly over the palate.  The finish is substantial and charismatically long; cocoa adds to the complexity, with a lasting sweetness in the throat finally ending in a sweet dry spell that calls out for more.

Anecdotal Notes
The Barbancourt family is of French origin, hence the spelling “Rhum” on the label.  Sugar cane grown at Domaine Barbancourt as well as other parts of Haiti is hand cut between November and June, then thrice milled, then fermented for about 72 hours with a proprietary strain of yeast developed in-house.  Double distilled in a column still to 70% ABV, then second distillation yields a spirit of 90% ABV.  The newly distilled liquor is diluted with water to 50% ABV before storing solely in French Limousin oak barrels and set aside for aging.  Before bottling, the rum is filtered to remove impurities and achieve color clarity.  Barbancourt’s 15 year old Reserve du Domain is available in tropical latitudes and filtered once, whereas the version shipped further north is called Estate Reserve and undergoes a second cold filtration.  More than one respected rum taster rates the tropical version higher than the twice-filtered version, and RnD’s opinion’s differ slightly too.  Dave tasted and reviewed the Reserve du Domain (tropical version), while Roger’s notes are based on the Estate Reserve version, so read carefully and choose wisely.  Annual production amounts to about 2million bottles.

Taster's Opinion
Dave – Purchased bottle #073888 on Antigua for $39: What strikes me so positively about Barbancourt Réserve du Domaine 15 year old rum is its fine balance of complex aromas and flavors.  Sure, it’s one of the most flavorful, pleasantly aromatic widely distributed rums in the USA, but it is eminently sippable anytime.

Roger – Purchased bottle #09912 in Oregon for $44:  Barbancourt Estate Reserve 15 year old rum is dark amber in color. Aromas discovered include brown sugar, hints of molasses, toffee, vanilla, and mild ethanol. Velvety smooth full body and slightly warming initial taste with flavors of buttery brown sugar, caramel, white pepper, and tobacco. The finish is medium in length, semi-dry with a caramel fade.  Barbancourt’s 15 year old rum is significantly more refined than its younger 8 year old, 5 Star, sibling. It’s fine sipping rum really meant to be enjoyed neat or on the rocks. It’s priced very competitively considering its age and quality.

Taster's Rating (10 is best): 

Dave - 9 Flasks (Réserve du Domaine)

Roger - 8.5 Flasks (Estate Reserve)

Most Recently reviewed by:  Dave in March, 2010 in RnD’s South Tasting Room, USA, and Roger in February 2010 in RnD’s North Tasting Room, USA.

*750ml unless otherwise stated.