🥃 Barceló Imperial
The senior Dominican rum blend from Barceló: rums up to ten years old from ex-bourbon barrels; since 1980; 38–40% ABV depending on the market.
Barceló Imperial is the oldest of the core blends from the Dominican brand Barceló. According to the producer, the rum is naturally aged for up to ten years. According to The Fat Rum Pirate, the expression appeared in 1980. Strength depends on the market: reviews mention 38% ABV in the UK and 40% ABV elsewhere.
Reviews say the rums for Imperial are distilled in column stills and aged in ex-bourbon barrels. No age is stated on the bottle, so "up to ten years" refers to the oldest part of the blend. One review, based on a hydrometer test, concludes that sugar has been added to the rum; the producer neither confirms nor denies this.
Why this matters to you. Compare Imperial with Gran Añejo (up to six years) and Añejo: the difference lies in the age of the component rums and in the strength sold in your market. The brand also releases Imperial-based expressions finished in other casks, but those are separate spirits. The WHO reminds us: no level of alcohol consumption is safe.
Facts
| Year founded | 1980 (per The Fat Rum Pirate) |
|---|---|
| Alcohol (% vol.) | 38% ABV (UK) or 40% ABV depending on the market |
| Minimum maturation | blend of rums up to 10 years old, no age statement |
| Cask type | ex-bourbon barrels (per reviews) |
| Distillation method | column stills (per The Fat Rum Pirate) |
How it connects to Spirits
🥃 Barceló Imperial → packed in → 🍷 Oak barrel ← packed in ← 🥃 Spirits
Links
- Packed in
- 🍷 Oak barrel, 🥃 Ex-bourbon barrel
- Made from
- 🥃 Sugar cane and molasses
- What it contains
- 🍷 Ethanol
- What it affects
- 🍷 Alcohol and health, 🍷 Drunk driving
- Part of
- 🥃 Barceló, 🥃 Rum
- Similar and different
- 🥃 Barceló Añejo, 🥃 Barceló Añejo, 🥃 Barceló Gran Añejo, 🥃 Barceló Gran Añejo
Frequently asked questions
Is the UK bottle weaker than the American one?
Reviews mention 38% ABV in the UK and 40% ABV elsewhere. In the US 40% is labelled as 80 proof, so look at the figure on your own bottle.
Is Barceló Imperial really ten years old?
The producer says “up to ten years”, which refers to the oldest part of the blend. No age is stated on the bottle.
Has sugar been added to it?
One review, based on a hydrometer test, concludes that it has; the producer neither confirms nor denies this.
Is it the same as the Imperial finished in other casks?
No. The brand's Imperial-based expressions finished in other casks are separate spirits.
When did Imperial first appear?
According to The Fat Rum Pirate, in 1980.
What to read next
- 🍷 Alcohol and health — Alcohol in any drink is harmful in large amounts, and the risks grow with the quantity.
- 🍷 Ethanol — The alcohol formed during fermentation that makes you drunk.
- 🍷 Oak barrel — A wooden vessel made of oak staves in which wine matures, picks up new aromas and slowly takes in air.
- 🥃 Barceló Añejo — Barceló Añejo is an aged golden Dominican rum: sugar cane juice, four years in ex-bourbon oak barrels according to the producer (RumX says three); 37.5% ABV per RumX.
- 🍷 Drunk driving — Never drive after drinking wine: alcohol slows your reactions.
Similar
🥃 Barceló Blanco Añejado · 🥃 Barceló Gran Añejo · 🥃 Barceló Añejo · 🥃 Brugal Añejo · 🥃 Brugal Extra Viejo · 🥃 Havana Club Añejo 7 Años
⚠️ Spirit drinks contain alcohol and are for adults only. Alcohol harms health. Do not drink during pregnancy or before driving; check the label for ingredients and possible allergens.
Sources
- Ron Barceló (виробник): Imperial (envejecido de forma natural por hasta una década)
- The Fat Rum Pirate: Ron Barceló Imperial (born 1980; column distilled; up to 10 years in bourbon barrels; 38 % in UK)
- The Rum Howler Blog: Barceló Imperial (up to ten years, ex-bourbon oak, no age statement, 40 % in reviewer's market)
- WHO/Europe: No level of alcohol consumption is safe for our health (04.01.2023)