Barrell Rum “Come Together”

ReviewsBlendedBarrellRumBreaking BourbonMash and Grape

Feb 11

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

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)