Barrell Rum “Come Together”

Barrell Rum Private Release

2020 was a bitch and a half. Anyone want to disagree, raise your hand…higher….higher! I really can’t see any…ok then.

Barrell Rum Come Together

But, it did lead to some excellent single barrel picks focused on first responders (see my Barrell Rye “Doctors Are Us” review - my rye of 2020!). This one was more about the concept of community, about coming together while being apart. This rum - blended from Barbados, Jamaica, Martinique, and Guyana distilleries - roars in at a blazing 130 proof. This is also pretty unique - picked by Breaking Bourbon with Barrell’s Joe Beatrice and Tripp Stimson, this rum is further finished in a used bourbon cask for around three months.

Originally called “Hump Day” (you can read the write-up on Breaking Bourbon’s website for why that is"), this came to be called “Come Together” to represent keeping our community together during COVID. Plus, $5 from each bottle went to a charity - half went to No Child Hungry and half went to the United States Bartenders Guild Foundation.

Cheers to coming together in 2020 and for a MUCH better year in 2021!

Barrell Rum “Come Together”: Specs

Classification: Blended Rum

Origin: Undisclosed distilleries in Barbados, Jamaica, Martinique, and Guyana.

Mashbill: Undisclosed

Proof: 130 (65% ABV)

Age: NAS

Location: N/A

Barrell Rum “Come Together” Price: N/A - Single Barrel no longer available

Barrell Rum “Come Together”: Tasting Notes

Eye: Coppered honey, medium rim and thick, slow droplets.

Nose: Tropical fruits, especially dried papaya. Some back-of-the-throat pepperiness. Sweet and fruity, but the proof makes itself known.

Palate: Burn up front is tempered by guava and papaya, fresh and dried. Brown sugar sweetness rounds out the fruits. Not too heavy, mildly coating. Mint opens up after a few sips.

Finish: Shorter than expected - leaves the fruits dancing lightly on my tongue.

Overall: If you can handle the proof, this is an excellent sipping rum. At 130º, though, that’s a BIG if.

Final Rating: 7.9

10 | Insurpassable | Nothing Else Comes Close (Blanton’s Straight from the Barrel)

9 | Incredible | Extraordinary (GTS, Elijah Craig Barrel Proof B518 and B520)

8 | Excellent | Exceptional (12+YO MGP Bourbon, Highland Park Single Barrels)

7 | Great | Well above average (Blanton’s Original, Old Weller Antique, Booker’s)

6 | Very Good | Better than average (Four Roses Small Batch Select, Knob Creek 14+ YO Picks)

5 | Good | Good, solid, ordinary (Elijah Craig Small Batch, Buffalo Trace, Old Grand-Dad Bottled-in-Bond)

4 | Sub-par | Many things I’d rather have (A.D. Laws Four Grain, Compass Box “Oak Cross”)

3 | Bad | Flawed (Iron Smoke Bourbon, Balcones)

2 | Poor | Forced myself to drink it (Buckshee Bourbon and Rye)

1 | Disgusting | Drain pour (Virginia Distilling Co. Cider Cask)

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Barrell Rye Single Barrel “9th Floor” Batch L958