There’s a time to mix, and a time to sip. This rum is for sipping. Nutty and earthy with a hint of warm spices, Ron del Barrilito is for fans of aged brandies and whiskeys. We really had no idea rum could taste so rich and complex, yet balanced. This has become our go-to gift for impressing fancy friends (no need for them to know it’s such a good deal). The Fernandez family takes freshly distilled white rum and processes it the same way the French do with cognac, using an antique system brought to the U. S. over 100 years ago. It’s a labor of love, and they only produce around 9, 000 cases each year (for comparison: one well-known producer also based in Puerto Rico makes about 20 million cases a year). For the geeks: Instead of filtering, the rum is slowly moved through a series of oak tanks, where the sediment naturally sinks to the bottom. Then, it rests in wine barrels for 6 to 10 years until the family is ready to blend it into the perfect mix for bottling. tip of the tongue The Daiquiri has gotten a bad rap, but this classic version is one of our favorite drinks ever. Combine 2 oz Ron del Barrilito, 1 oz simple syrup and 1 oz freshly squeezed lime juice in a cocktail shaker with lots of ice. Shake until very cold and strain into a chilled cocktail glass.
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