A favourite of Casa Charlosa, especially when we’ve been to Spain for holidays in the past – where it is more commonly available, Ron Barceló, has joined the Emporia Brands portfolio for distribution here in the UK.

The Award-winning spirits importer and distributor, Emporia Brands, has proudly announced that Dominican rum, Ron Barceló, described as the world’s first carbon neutral rum brand, and the most exported dark rum in the world, will be joining their UK portfolio of premium spirit brands.

Ron Barceló is the only rum produced with 100% sugarcane juice from its own plantations in the Dominican Republic. Created by Julián Barceló in 1929, Ron Barceló recently ranked as number six in the ‘top 10 biggest selling rum brands of 2022’ (The Spirits Business).

As well as striving for excellence in taste, Ron Barceló also places great importance on the sustainability of its work. Certified in 2019 by the independent body SGS (Société Générale de Surveillance), Ron Barceló was the first rum to gain carbon neutral certification for the company and all its products in 2016. This was thanks to Ron Barceló’s own sustainability programme, comprising a standard of environmental and social conducts based on sustainable principles and measuring the company’s impact across environmental and human aspects. With these policies Ron Barceló has minimised its dependence on fossil fuels, ensuring that nearly 90% of the electricity it consumes comes from renewable or green sources, such as solar or biomass energy. It also recaptures all of the CO2 from fermentation, transforming it into food grade CO2 to for use in carbonated beverages.

Otto Flores, Global Brand Ambassador for Ron Barceló comments: “For our rum brand Barceló, to be represented in the UK, as one of the most prestigious spirits markets, was a major priority, and we are pleased to announce this news. Along with our partner Emporia, we will have a strong focus on brand building and distribution, bringing the world’s most exported dark rum to consumers across the UK.”

Jack Rackham, MD at Emporia added: ‘We’re thrilled to be working with Ron Barceló in the UK. We’re especially excited to be bringing in the Barceló Organic rum in as part of the range – this is the Dominican Republic’s first organic rum, made from fresh sugar cane juice, from Barceló’s wildest and oldest fields and it tastes fantastic and truly embodies what Ron Barceló is all about! Even the packaging is sustainable, made from a sugar cane-derived plant fibre case which is labelled using organic ink. Barceló’s way of working is such an inspiration to the industry as a whole and the consistent innovation matched with sustainability is remarkable.

The whole range will be available to taste at The Rum Show on the 14th & 15th July and is now available from most major wholesalers, including the Whisky Exchange and Distillers Direct, and includes:

• Barceló Organic Rum (37.5% ABV)
• Barceló Blanco Rum (37.5% ABV) – Aged up to 2 years in oak barrels before being charcoal filtered.
• Barceló Dorado Rum (37.5% ABV) – Aged up to 2 years in ex-bourbon American oak barrels.
• Barceló Gran Añejo (37.5% ABV) – Aged up to 6 years in ex-bourbon oak barrels.
• Barceló Gran Añejo Dark Rum (37.5% ABV) – Aged up to 6 years in barrels with a high toast.
• Barceló Imperial Rum (38% ABV) – Aged for up to ten years.
• Barceló Imperial Onyx Rum (38% ABV) – Aged for up to ten years in oak barrels with a high toast.

In addition, to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the launch of Ron Barceló Imperial, the range will be completed by the special blend:

• Barceló Imperial Premium Blend Rum (40 Year Anniversary) (43% ABV)

Ron Barceló Imperial Premium Blend is described as a special blend of old Barceló Imperial reserves, matured in selected American oak barrels and French oak barrels, celebrating forty years of expertise. Amazing body with crème brûlée and caramelised raisin character perfectly complementing complex notes of dried cherries, pepper leaf and spice.