Don Rhon Gran Reserva

[Patapouf]

Hello everyone,

I'm glad I've stumbled upon this site because I'm quickly becoming in love with rum. It is of course thanks to my trips to the Dominican Republic.

I've, of course, tasted most of the Brugal products, including my favorite Extra Viejo.

A few weeks ago I stumbled upon a rum called Don Rhon Gran Reserva (in a neat barrel shaped bottle). It was widely available in the market and the vendors kept bragging that it was their best rum (better than Brugal's Extra Viejo wich was just as available). I have not opened it yet.

Have any of you tried this one? Would you consider it to be a good rum? Or was I runned for my money.

None the less, I only paid 7$. If you need any other info I'll try my best. Thanks!

[Patapouf]

So does anyone know of this rum? I thought it'd be more known since this rum was just as present as Brugal's

[Hank Koestner]

I have never heard of it, but I have a friend who has travels to the DR, and she said she has seen it. She has never tasted it. I might be able to procure a bottle when she goes back in 3 months. Sounds like a fun bottle to have in the collection. Let us know how it tastes!!

[Patapouf]

You've confirmed my thoughts... it's not well know outside of the DR. Yeah, it is a neat looking bottle and in the next few days I'll give it a sipping. I'll even be able to compare it to Brugal's rums (the Anejo and Extra Viejo); they seem to be the DR's popular benchmarks.

Thanks

[Sanson]

If I remember correctly, Don Rhon, is made by Vinicola del Norte, which is owned by Brugal. Anyway, Don Rhon isn`t very popular, not even in the DR. Try Barcelo Imperial in your next trip to the DR.

[Edward Hamilton]

Brugal has over 70% of the rum market in the DR and it appears that Don Rhon is an attempt to expand that market with a new product. I was just in the DR and had to try it. I was slightly disappointed because I also heard from the retailer that this was the latest and greatest new rum in a country known for their great rum. Unfortunately, I lost my camera on that trip so I don't have a jpg to post.

[Edward Hamilton]

Last Monday night I ran across a bottle of Don Rhon in San Francisco, someone had brought it back from the DR and I was offered another taste of this 37.5% abv rum. The polished copper hue is very attractive in the glass, but the ,blackberry, sweet peach initial taste quickly fades to a short, dry finish. Don Rhon reminds me of the woman who shared it with me: dark, sweet and short.

[Patapouf]

Well... I've finally sipped it, and compared it to the extra vieijo. Brugal's is still the best I've tasted so far; actually Don Rhon cant even compare. Don Rhon's take has a very sharp taste, not smooth like I'm used to. It also has a lingering after taste.

Oh well... maybe I'll just use it to make some mamajuana! It did have some impressive flavors that should mix well with the roots and honey.

[worlok]

Well... I've finally sipped it, and compared it to the extra vieijo. Brugal's is still the best I've tasted so far; actually Don Rhon cant even compare. Don Rhon's take has a very sharp taste, not smooth like I'm used to. It also has a lingering after taste.

Oh well... maybe I'll just use it to make some mamajuana! It did have some impressive flavors that should mix well with the roots and honey.

Mamajuana can take the nastiest rum and convert it into a smooth spicy elixir. :cool:

[bunnyhugs]

I'm drinking some Don Rhon now and not enjoying it. . .

Ed's assessment seems if anything too kind. Of course everyone tastes differently, and maybe this one just doesn't grab me for whatever reason.

I'm finding it slightly rough, dryish, with a bitter chocolate taste (which seems almost artificial), and then some odd almost vermouth-like aromatic flavor. This vermouth note even carries through when you mix it with coke. I like vermouth normally, but this taste somehow just doesn't sit with me.

Still, I can see how some people locally might appreciate the dry finish compared to Brugal - which all seem sweetish. Overall I don't like it though.


The Barcelo Imperial on the other hand is a real stand out. I've been to the plaza by Columbus's palace a couple of times now and had a glass while watching a flamenco show in a Spanish restaurant there. I keep getting more out of the Barcelo Imperial each time I drink it. I think I'm going to go again tonight.

[bunnyhugs]

By the way I'm slightly disappointed to see that Ed has already tried the Don Rhon. I don't remember seeing it in his Rum Index, so when I picked it up in the supermarket I figured I was making a new discovery.

Then on opening the bottle and tasting the stuff the gloss of discovery got dulled a little.

Then I Google Don Rhon and find Ed got there long before me.

Oh well. . .

[Michael]

My apologies for the non sequitur, but we're big fans of the Barcelу Imperial and its distinctive profile bunnyhugs. Have you had a chance to sample the Brugal Extra Viejo yet? We'd welcome tasting notes, as the only availability we've found in this country is through a rather expensive channel and the other members of the Brugal line which you mentioned purchasing have been previously sampled.

[bunnyhugs]

My apologies for the non sequitur, but we're big fans of the Barceló Imperial and its distinctive profile bunnyhugs. Have you had a chance to sample the Brugal Extra Viejo yet? We'd welcome tasting notes, as the only availability we've found in this country is through a rather expensive channel and the other members of the Brugal line which you mentioned purchasing have been previously sampled.

I am going to put a comparison of all/most of the Brugal rums on my website soonish. . . I've got notes on most of them, but I'm sort of going back and forth and doing it gradually. Also wondering if I need to go out and include the overproof and a limon flavored rum I spotted. I'm also still trying to get some Siglo de Oro.


But. . . . the Extra Viejo is great. In fact it's practically the reason I'm here. Previous to coming here I'd only tried it once (never been available anywhere I've lived, so just got to sample in a bar that scored a bottle). I figured I might as well come here and see what else they produce in these parts.

The Extra Viejo is ubiquitous here by the way and very competitively priced compared to their other products. Every little liquor shop stocks numerous bottles. Since it only costs an extra buck or two per bottle at this end there is no real reason it should be priced too much higher than the rest of their range overseas.

The Extra Viejo is ultra smooth but not overly sweet, a kind of a cognac-like sipper. Caramel, wood, spice, and dried or fermented fruit notes (prunes?) all share the stage with one another. Nicely balanced. Leads into an interesting and lingering finish with a little bitterness. Quite subtle though, not a flavor bomb or anything. Given it's smoothness (plus relatively low proof - 37.5%?), I think I like it best without ice or water.

In comparison the Anejo has a fresher, sweeter, dried fruit taste (apricots and bananas maybe?).

That's just my impression so far.

[TheRumelier]

I had a bottle sitting on my shelf for a long time so decided to stop at a local Domican store and found another bottle for $US8 for a 375ml. After a couple of glasses, about half the bottle, it seems like a slighty less proud version of Barcelo Imperial. It has a great aroma. I noticed it was also made in Santo Domingo like Barcelo. It has that light Domincan taste and profile. I prefer it to the Brugal rums, I find them to have too much caramel, almost a fake taste. I've never understood why Brugal is the most popular rum in the DR, there are so many good rums available there. Unfortunately many of them are only available domestically. I think I smell another trip to the DR!! It is also a shame it only comes in a 375ml bottle. It would look great in a larger bottle.

[carlosalvarado10]

oh man that sounds like my kind of rum! cant wait to try it!

[Patapouf]

Sorry to bring up an old thread, but I'm trying to use up my bottle of Don Rhon before I get to the good stuff.

It's been mixing well with coke. It gives the old drink a good punch and seems to be bringing out the caramel flavors... weird!

As it stands, I still hate it straight or on the rocks. Any other suggestions?