Barbancourt rum the Haitian culture

Over the years, people in Haiti have always tried to create unique, tasty beverages using sugar cane juice. Barbancourt is a rum made specifically from pure sugar cane juice, and it’s unlike any other type of rum out there. It’s bottled in Haiti, and the recipe has been around for more than 150 years. Which is why it can be a great idea to test out the Barbancourt rum, as it’s one of the most interesting types of Haitian rum recipes. 

Who created the Barbancourt rum?

Barbancourt is a rum bottled by the Societe du Rhum Barbancourt. The family business that started preparing the rum got started in 1862 and they started making rum solely with sugar cane juice. The owner was named Dupre Barbancourt and he lived in the Charente region. He learned how to prepare rum that year, and then he started selling the rum at around 30 cents per gallon. After he died, the distillery was passed to his wife, who managed it with her nephew. Then the nephew named Paul is the one that directed the company until his passing. After that, his son Jean took over. And this happened until this day, when Delphine Nathalie Gardere succeeded her father. 

What makes the Barbancourt rum different?

There are many things to know about the Barbancourt rum, and the most important one is the fact that the rum itself is double-distilled. They rely on a process similar to preparing cognac, but it’s double distilled and very high quality. That’s what makes it such an excellent, outstanding product to take into consideration. 

Unlike other type of rum that’s made from the molasses, sugar cane byproduct, Barbancourt rum is made solely from the sugar cane juice. It’s very similar to Martinique’s rum Agricole that’s controlled by the law. But why are they using sugar cane juice? They are able to ferment the fresh sugar cane juice and in doing so they are able to deliver more flavor to the rum.

And yes, it works very well, with people from all over the world being interested in the Barbancourt rum for that reason alone. On top of that, another reason why this rum is very popular is because it managed to win a lot of competitions all over the world. These products won multiple competitions with excellent reviews and prizes. Rum connoisseurs in particular are very excited about this product since it’s unlike any other option that you can find out there.

Maybe the finest rum in Haiti

Barbancourt rum has quickly become one of the best types of rum in Haiti, and for a very good reason. The Reserve du Domaine Barbancourt rum is aged around 15 years. Each one of the bottles used to have its own serial number, a staple to the high quality that it provides and how rare this type of product really is. One thing to note here is the fact that the labels have changed, and there is no unique serial number anymore.

Are all Barbancourt rums made out of sugar cane juice?

The short answer is yes. Barbancourt has always been a company focused on tradition and they do focus on delivering their customers some of the best possible quality that they can find on the market. It’s always exciting to have access to very high quality rum, but also rum that keeps a great manufacturing tradition. And now that the company is once again 100% owned by the Barbancourt descendants, it’s an amazing opportunity for them to preserve that legacy so it will never go away.

Not only that, but the aging process is pretty much mandatory for all the Barbancourt products. The reason is simple, the rum is aged in order to deliver an exceptional flavor. What a lot of people don’t know is the fact that most of these rums are aged in French Oak Barrels. They have these places in the Cul de Sac plains, humid and cool cellars that are perfect for the rum aging process. 

The location, but also the aging conditions make it very easy to prepare the Barbancourt rum and that does stand out more than you might expect. On top of that, the quality that you can obtain here is nothing short of impressive, and you will be amazed with the attention to detail and exceptional taste.

Where can you buy Barbancourt rum?

For many years, the Barbancourt rum was only sold in Haiti. But over the years, it managed to step well beyond the country’s borders. At this time, Barbancourt rums can be found in a variety of countries, 20+ at this point. There are many Caribbean countries that enjoy Barbancourt rum. You can also find this rum in Italy - Wikipedia , France, Canada and the US, among many others. 

What is the Barbancourt rum used for?

A lot of people choose to drink the Barbancourt rum on its own. Since it’s made out of sugar cane juice, it has a very distinct taste and that alone is one of the things that you will like the most. But what many don’t realize is that you can also prepare your own Barbancourt drinks as well if you want. The Haitian recipe named Kremas uses Barbancourt in order to deliver a stinging alcoholic taste, along with a punchy flavor.

Kremas is extremely popular in Haiti, in fact people prepare and drink it especially during the holidays or many local festivals. What’s great is that it can add a sweet flavor especially if you serve it with a dessert. The fact that it seamlessly managed to blend nutmeg, lemon, cinnamon, coconut cream and Barbancourt rum is amazing, and the results are certainly unexpected. Yet the taste itself is incredible and also the reason why many gravitate towards Kremas especially during the holidays.

Is the Barbancourt rum strong?

That’s a question a lot of people have and for a very good reason. It depends on how it’s prepared, but normally it’s not very strong. It comes with a moderate flavor, and the flavor itself is similar to the traditional rum. You can see why too, because this is a very interesting and enjoyable recipe with a lot of distinctive features. People like it immensely, and you will be impressed with the taste in the long run.

Drinking Barbancourt rum in moderation might help you relieve stress, not to mention it can also stabilize your blood pressure. For a lot of people, Barbancourt rum is also great if you need an energy boost too, which is great.

Conclusion

As you can see, the Barbancourt rum has a very rich history and it’s one of those rums that a lot of people love. The fact that they retain the traditional aspect of the rum while also bringing in something unique into the mix is extraordinary in its own right. But at the same time, they are not afraid to innovate, that’s why they have multiple Barbancourt rum lines these days. It’s great to see that they still use the same ingredients as they used more than 150 years ago. That goes to show the incredible legacy of the company!

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