Bacardi’s Latest Cask Finished Rum Expressions Are Exceptional

Aug 06, 2023

The Bacardi Riserva Ocho range of cask-finished rums

Bacardi is the world's largest producer of rum. It has consistently been an innovator in the rum trade. Over its history, it has won more than 1,000 awards for its rums in international spirit competitions. Among its most recent innovations is a series of cask-finished rums built around Bacardi Reserva Ocho. The 8 YO rum is a mainstay of its core range.

Two cask-finished expressions have been released: Sherry Cask and Rye Cask. Three more expressions are scheduled for release, one each August for the next three years. According to unconfirmed reports, the next release will be a Bacardi Reserva Ocho finished in Sevelliana Orange Wine Cask. Orange wine is a white wine from Andalucia in Spain, macerated with orange peel. It's known locally as vino de naranja.

The Bacardi Reserva Ocho is a blend of rums aged from 8 YO to 12 YO matured in ex-bourbon casks. It began initially as the Bacardi family's private reserve but has since become integral to Bacardi's core rum range. The current Sherry cask expression is finished in Sherry butts from different producers for five to six months. The rye-finished expression was aged three to five months in rye barrels from Angel's Envy.

Bacardi has a long history of finishing rum in Sherry barrels. The Bacardi Millenium was an 8-YO rum matured in Sherry butts and bottled in a Baccarat crystal bottle released in 1997. A Bacardi 4-YO rum with a limited Sherry finish was also released as a travel retail exclusive.

Recently, I sat down with Lisa Pfenning and Astrophel "Troy" Arquiza to talk about Bacardi's latest cask-finished rum expressions.

Originally from the Philippines, Astrophel "Troy" Arquiza (TA)has spent more than two decades with family-owned Bacardi, honing his craft as a rum blender. He trained for many years under industry-legend José "Joe" Gomez, who retired after 41 years with Bacardi and who Troy now succeeds as Global Master Blender.

Lisa Pfenning (LP) is Vice President North America Bacardi Rum. In her current role, Lisa spearheads the strategy and execution of all marketing activities for the iconic rum portfolio in its largest market. Previously, Lisa served as Global Vice President for the Bacardi Limited Acceleration brands. Additionally, she was Vice President and Brand Managing Director for the Whiskey and Tequila portfolios in North America.

JM: Cask-finished rums are a relatively new category in the rum trade. It's also been one of the fastest-growing sectors, albeit from a small base. How significant is this trend in both volume and revenue? How big could it get? How does it compare to flavored rum?

Lisa Pfenning, Bacardi

LP: Bacardi is a brand built on innovation, so creating a range of cask-finished variants for our flagship aged rum, BACARDÍ Reserva Ocho, was a natural progression in the premiumization of our portfolio. We launched the series last year after seeing a rum category revenue increase of 5.9% in 2020, with much of that growth attributed to high-end premium (8.7%), premium (7.5%), and super-premium (3.7%) categories, according to Nielsen, which also noted an increase in rum cask finishes revenue by over 190%.

After seeing the continued growth of rum-finished whiskeys over the past three years, we wanted to create something reminiscent of that in the rum category with this year's Rye Cask finish. This is our way of forging ahead of that trend in a way that entices Bacardi's existing consumer base and other dark spirits drinkers to try something different.

We anticipate the popularity of cask-finished rums to continue growing in the coming years, so we have our series slated through 2025, with one new cask finish released yearly. As an inherently sippable spirit, BACARDÍ Reserva Ocho and its cask-finished variants tend to be best enjoyed neat, on the rocks, or in an elevated cocktail, like the Daiquiri.

JM: This is the second cask-finished rum from Bacardi. Can you tell us what other expressions are in the pipeline?

LP: Only three more launches of our BACARDÍ Reserva Ocho cask finishes are in the pipeline! Last year's inaugural and sell-out Sherry Cask Finish was incredibly popular. While I can't say what's ahead, each one will be unique and uphold the same quality Bacardi lovers have come to appreciate and expect from the world's most-awarded rum brand. Stay tuned!

JM: The BACARDÍ Ocho combines rums ranging from 8 to 12 years. Is that where the designation Ocho comes from? Will Ocho be the primary vehicle for Bacardi's cask-finished rum, or are you considering other expressions in the core range?

LP: Aged for at least eight years under the Caribbean sun, BACARDÍ Reserva Ocho is characterized by its deep, layered, and mellow flavor of dried fruits, spices, and oaky vanilla. This particular liquid was chosen because it dates back to the Bacardi family private reserve in 1862 – it holds a very special place in the brand's history of rum making. Because of this, the cask finish series is especially meaningful to the brand as we continue to innovate, but in ways that will always pay homage to our heritage.

JM: Who is the typical drinker of cask-finished rums? Are they rum enthusiasts looking for an interesting sipping rum, or is the mixology community the primary driver of interest and demand for cask-finished rum?

Astrophel Troy Arquiza, Bacardi Master Global Blender

TA: While BACARDÍ Reserva Ocho and its cask-finished variants are beloved for their versatility, cask-finished rums are primarily popular with aged and dark spirits sippers. The aromas and flavors that come with these finishes are a large part of the tasting experience, so we recommend sipping the variants in room-temperature glasses to truly enjoy the full flavor profile.

JM: What types of wines and spirits do you think are the best compliment to a rum like Ocho? Are there specific flavors you are trying to add to the rum's primary aroma and taste profile, or is this more of an exercise in building nuanced complexity within the rum spirit?

TA: Each cask-finished variant, including this year's Rye Cask finish, complements and accentuates BACARDÍ Reserva Ocho as the base spirit. The finishing process brings an added layer of complexity to the batch. To do that, we use barrels that impart nuanced aromas to add distinction when sipped while still allowing the intricacies that lovers of BACARDÍ Reserva Ocho can enjoy and appreciate.

It's a complex balance that we’ve worked hard to master over our 160 years of rum making. This year's Rye Cask finish was achieved through American oak barrels, adding smokiness interlaced with wood, caramelized brown sugar, and subtle vanilla, then embraced with rye whiskeys’ distinct aromas of gingerbread, maple sugar, and a hint of spiciness.

JM: Thank you.

Below are tasting notes on the BACARDÍ Reserve Ocho Sherry Cask and Rye Cask finishes.

BACARDÍ Reserva Ocho, Sherry Cask Finish, 40% ABV, 750 ml, $30 Average Retail Price

The Sherry cask finish rum is slightly darker than the standard BACARDÍ Reserva Ocho. On the nose, it's very floral and aromatic, with pronounced notes of vanilla and caramel that slowly give way to brown sugar and a hint of maple syrup. Sherry-aged spirits' typically dried fruit notes emerge as the rum opens up, featuring golden raisins, some figs, and a touch of date.

The rum is smooth and creamy on the palate, with a pronounced mouth-coating palate weight and a chewy texture. The Sherry influence is unmistakable. It features candied orange and lemon zest, golden raisin, fig, dried apricot, and some prunes and dates.

Additional notes of milk chocolate, a bit of coffee, caramel, vanilla, roasted walnut, some licorice, and a hint of dried tobacco leaf also emerge from the glass, along with spice notes of cinnamon, pepper, a bit of clove, and well-seasoned oak wood.

The finish is long, characterized by an initial dried fruit sweetness, lingering wood spices and pepper notes, but ends on a surprisingly dry note.

BACARDÍ, Reserva Ocho, Rye Cask Finish, 45% ABV, 750 ml, $30 Average Retail Price

The BACARDÍ Reserva Ocho, Rye Cask Finish rum is bottled at 90 proof rather than the 80 proof of the classic BACARDÍ Reserva Ocho or the Sherry Cask Finished expression.

It has many of the same brown sugar/caramel and vanilla aromas of the Ocho Sherry Cask Finish on the nose, but the aromas seem darker. More molasses and burnt sugar than caramel. It is also more herbaceous, with notes of dried tobacco leaves and a hint of freshly cut grass. The fruit aromas are more tropical, featuring notes of banana, melon, and mango, and less the dried raisin, fig, and date typical of Sherry cask finished spirits.

The rum is thick and viscous on the palate, with a noticeable palate weight. Overall, however, it seems a touch lighter than the Sherry cask finished expression. The tropical fruit notes are prominent on the palate, supplemented by citrus zest, some orchard fruit notes of apple, and a touch of pear.

There are additional notes of milk chocolate, ginger snaps, caramelized brown sugar, and cola. The pepperiness is more white pepper than black pepper and is accompanied by ginger, cinnamon, and clove flavors. The clove notes seem more pronounced in the rye cask finish than in the Sherry cask finished expression, while the vanilla notes seem more muted.

The rye cask expression seems spicier and drier than the Sherry cask bottling, has a more distinctive saddle leather note, and is a touch more herbal in character.

The finish is long and dry, with lingering tropical fruit notes, caramel/molasses notes, and a hint of bitterness at the end.

These are both outstanding rums. At a retail price in the low $30 range, they represent excellent values and will appeal to both the committed rum drinker and the traditional whisky drinker looking to expand their palate. Both expressions will work equally well straight up or on the rocks. Use them as an aperitif or with an after-dinner cigar.

Both are rums to add to your collection. Since the entire cask finished series has limited availability, best to grab them while you can.

Cheers