Ron del Barrilito 3 Star?

[missin44]

I'm back, lost my book mark. Anyway I was in Puerto Rico airport duty free and a friend recommended Ron del Barrilito 3 Star. Not being a true rum drinker an knowing nothing about rum, I bought it. $20 a bottle. Haven't opened it yet.

1. Good rum or not?
2. What can I expect?
3. Drink straight, mix or both?

Thanks

[RobertBurr]

this is the spirit that rum enthusiasts in PR drink. To me, it has more in common with Barbancourt from Haiti that most of the other rums from Puerto Rico.

[rumdog007]

Ah, the 3 Star (said like Walter Pidgeon as I sit here gently stroking my chin)! You have a real gem. Robert is on the money that it's closer to Barbancourt than to Bacardi. Altough, the rum is bought from Bacardi for independent aging and finishing, it is unique from any rum which comes from Bacardi that I have tasted. Please follow the link below to The Rumelier's story and review:

http://www.therumelier.com/id62.html

Great rum, BTW!

[Rum Runner]

The Rumelier did a nice write up there on del Barrilito.

Both the two star and three star have a very distinctive flavor profile to my palate. They both stand apart from any other aged rum produced here in Puerto Rico. The three star especially is very upfront in the aroma with charred oak and a pleasant nuttiness.

Ed has commented earlier that the producer may be macerating prunes, raisins, and nuts in the ageing process.

I had the opportunity to taste Barbancourt 8 year old just the other day. I like it very much. I find del Barrilito much more aggressive (in a good way) on the aroma and palate.

I like to drink it with a couple of cubes of ice. It makes a killer Rum and Tonic with an under ripe lime...Or, mix it with a good portion of passion fruit juice... turn up the Merengue music...And then the ladies get dancing!

[Rum Runner]

By the way Rumdog. I liked your reference to Walter Pidgeon the actor. He would never have been seen pushing a cart.

[Bill]

I'm going to have to disagree. Sort of. While the Two Star is indeed a bit "caney" and thus might - might - be very loosely compared to Barbancourt, the Three Star is a straight ahead rum that is clearly from molasses. The 3 Star is sweet, almost a dessert rum, presents with licorice and a light orange and continues on consistently to a nice, sophisticated light and peppery finish.

Quite different than Barbancourt to me.