Bacardi Reserva Ocho Rum Sherry Cask Finish (750Ml)

Bacardí Reserva Ocho Rum Sherry Cask Finish starts with a rum you may already know. Bacardí Reserva Ocho rests for 8 to 12 years in American oak in the Caribbean. For this bottle, it then goes into Oloroso sherry casks for just over two months. Oloroso is a rich, nutty style of Spanish sherry. The nod to Spain is deliberate, since founder Facundo Bacardí Massó came from there.

Raise the glass and you will pick up dried fruit and raisins first. Walnuts and almonds sit right behind them. On the palate the rum turns sweet, smooth and almost velvety. Caramel and vanilla lead, with a bright touch of orange. Those same nutty notes come back and carry the long, gentle finish.

This was the very first bottle in the Bacardí Reserva Cask Finish Series. The plan was a five-year run, with a new cask type each year through 2025. That makes this sherry release the one that set the tone for the rest.

Bacardí suggests you taste it neat at room temperature. That gives the dried fruit and nut notes time to open up. After that, a large ice cube works well. It also makes a rich base for stirred premium rum drinks such as an Old Fashioned.

Try it with dark chocolate, roasted nuts or a slice of manchego. It also sits nicely next to bread pudding after dinner. If you like aged rum with a nutty, fruity side, this is a bottle you will enjoy. It is also a friendly first step if you usually drink sherried whisky.