First Impressions
Barcelo Imperial Onyx has two distinguishing features: maturation in heavily-charred bourbon barrels, and filtration through onyx stones prior to bottling. The heavy charring creates more contact with caramelised wood sugars, while the onyx filtration is said to smooth the spirit. Whether the filtration does much is debatable, but the charred barrel influence is clearly discernible.
Tasting Notes
The nose shows caramel, dark chocolate, and toasted oak prominently. Vanilla and dried fruit provide sweetness, and there's a gentle smokiness from the heavy charring. It smells richer than the standard Barcelo range.
On the palate, the charred barrel influence shines. Rich caramel depth leads, with dark chocolate and charred oak smokiness creating a complex, layered profile. Vanilla cream and dried fruit sweetness balance the smokier notes. At 38%, it's slightly lighter in strength than some competitors, but the flavour density compensates.
The finish is medium-long, with charred oak warmth and chocolate fading to a smooth caramel close.
How to Drink It
Neat or on the rocks. The smoky character also makes it an interesting base for cocktails that typically use mezcal or smoky whisky — try it in a smoky variation of an Old Fashioned.
The Bottom Line
Barcelo Imperial Onyx earns a 7 — the charred barrel influence adds genuine character and sets it apart from the standard Dominican rum profile. At £35, it's well-priced for a premium Dominican expression. The subtle smokiness is the star.
