Barbancourt 15 - Estate Especiale vs Reserve du Domaine

[RobertBurr]

Thirty years ago, I came to love Barbancourt 15 year old Reserve du Domaine. Every bottle had a serial number on the back. One day, after the Haitian embargo of the early 90s, I bought a bottle and noticed a different quality, not so mature, not so viscous, not as smooth. I looked at the bottle closely to find several differences: it still had 15 years old on the label, but the name was changed to Estate Reserve and there was no number on the bottle.

Traveling to the Turks and Caicos Islands, I started looking closer at the bottles. Sure enough, there it was -- Reserve du Domaine, with a numbered bottle. I felt releved to discover my old friend. I never acquired another bottle of Estate Reserve in the US again, until this week.

Just finished a tasting of the Gifted Rums of Hispaniola, featuring some of my favorite rums from Haiti and Dominican Republic. Along with about 40 rum enthusiasts, we sat down to compare the differences in these two 15 year old Barbancourt rums.

Quite a difference. If you're drinking the 15 year old Barbancourt we get here in the US, you're missing the real McCoy. The real Reserve du Domaine is darker, richer, smoother and more satisfying. The Estate Reserve is a bit sweeter, lighter and not as smooth.

I can't say why there's a difference, but I'm planning to look into this further.

[Paulipbartender]

That's my kind of investigation Mr Burr!!!

I just rushed in panic to the bar and saw we had the Reserve du Domaine......phew! I don't know how we'd sleep if we knew there was a better Barbancourt out there and didn't have it!

[Michael]

Thanks for the followup Robert. Now we just have to find some Reserve Du Domaine available domestically.

[Edward Hamilton]

It is my belief that the differences lie primarily in the aging process. Though both of those bottles claim to be 15 year old rum, and who am I to say it isn't, but one of those rums was aged in small oak casks and one was aged in larger vessels sometimes called vats.

In some rum producing regions the size of the aging vessel is mandated and in others it's up the distiller/bottler.

[Tiare]

Originally Posted by RobertBurr

it still had 15 years old on the label, but the name was changed to Estate Especiale and there was no number on the bottle.

Thanks Robert, then i know what to avoid if possible..

[Hank Koestner]

My bottle of Bab 15 does not say Reserve du Domaine, but says Estate Reserve. My bottle of 5 Star says Reserve Speciale. Is this also different?

[RobertBurr]

Originally Posted by Hank Koestner

My bottle of Bab 15 does not say Reserve du Domaine, but says Estate Reserve. My bottle of 5 Star says Reserve Speciale. Is this also different?

Hank, my mistake. My bottle of domestic 15 year old is Estate Reserve, which I confused with the Reserve Speciale.

Since the 15 year old Reserve de Domaine is not available here in the US, it's hard to arrange for such a taste comparison, but for those that travel abroad, do consider picking up a bottle to bring back.

[RumBarPhilly]

Interesting stuff! Sadll, wuill never be able to sell the Reserve du Domaine at my bar. The plus for me, though, is Im in love with the Estate Reserve and can only imagine how good this older bottling is! Perhaps Ill pick one up for my personal collection, but sadly Rum Bar will lack...

[RobertBurr]

Originally Posted by RumBarPhilly

Interesting stuff! Sadll, wuill never be able to sell the Reserve du Domaine at my bar. The plus for me, though, is Im in love with the Estate Reserve and can only imagine how good this older bottling is! Perhaps Ill pick one up for my personal collection, but sadly Rum Bar will lack...

Adam, I'll put a bottle of Reserve du Domaine aside for you so the next time you visit Miami, you can experience it.

[Rum Runner]

I recall back in the early eighties being introduced to the Reserve du Domaine. And I loved it. I love the younger bottlings too...But the older ones hold a subjective soft spot for me.

As for the rest of Hispanola Robert...What about that? Care to start a new thread there? What about Barcelo Imperial compared to the old Barcelo Emperador?