Don Andres Brugal Montaner launched Brugal in 1888 to break away from the traditional styles of the time and to create a distinctly different Rum. Apparently there are two things that set Brugal apart from others. First, the method of distillation, which removes much of what other Rums leave in. The spirit is thus cleaner, dryer and less sweet. Secondly, every drop of Brugal is cask-aged, using the same wood policy as the World’s best single malt Scotch Whiskies.
Brugal 1888 Rum is distilled for dryness - Brugal’s distillation removes many of the heavy alcohols that give other Rums their sweetness. Distilled from fermented molasses, this is a blend of Rums aged from 5 to 14 years in American white oak casks, and finish matured in first-fill Sherry oak casks.
The Flavor Spiral™ shows the most common flavors that you'll taste in Brugal 1888 Rum and gives you a chance to have a taste of it before actually tasting it.
We invented Flavor Spiral™ here at Flaviar to get all your senses involved in tasting drinks and, frankly, because we think that classic tasting notes are boring.
Dog Dogson's
Smartass Corner
Common Rum classifications: White, Golden or Amber, Dark, Spiced, Añejo and Age-Dated Rums.
Sweet, notes of prune, oak, and vanilla. Tastes like Dr Pepper
Steven,
Very good sipping Rum.
Thomas,
Fantastic sipping rum. Love it
Ford,
Really nice and typical of other Dominican Rums I have had. Not as sweet as other dark rums with a drier and more complex finish
Tamara,
Not a fan. It tastes like paint thinner to me. I've tried every kind of mixer I can think of and I just can't make it good. To be fair, I should not have strayed from Bourbon, I guess.
Paul,
Excellant. I am a bourbon drinker and this is a terrific sipping drink. I have really enjoyed it.
James,
Very smooth! I’m a whiskey drinker and this sips like a good whiskey!
Glenn,
Delicious rum with whisky notes. Great for old fashions.
Robert,
Not bad for sipping but really enjoyed it with coke.
Art,
Not bad but not great. I prefer a sweeter flavor in my rums.
Shamar,
It's just ok. It's good to sip every now and then, but the flavor isn't something I would go for. It is smooth, but there is an over-powering burnt barrel flavor that overrides the sweet notes that I'm used to when drinking rum. It's a lot stronger than my whiskey. Some might love the burnt flavor but not me.
Peter,
Being a fan of whiskey this rum is one of my favorites
Jeff,
Very smooth and is my favorite
Lili,
Coffee and carmel in the nose. The dark chocolate, coffee notes upfront with lingering licorice and carmel finish. It delivers a very different flavor profile.
Ashley,
Woody aftertaste is excellent.
Marcia,
Liked it, loved it. Love the window dressing too. This was my 2nd time ordering it. I’ll order it again !
Gene,
Like it
Keith,
Great rum. Would definitely buy again.
Nate,
Love it! The aroma is incredible, as is the taste. It has a little caramel flavor that I love. It’s definitely not like most rooms that I drink, which is good. I would buy more of this!
Joshua,
The rum has a buttery taste to it but in my opinion it drinks more like a tequila than a rum. Would probably be good in a mixed drink with lime. Not for me but not bad.
Gene,
Excellent rum that is not too sweet but has a nice buttery flavor. I got this bottle in the early fall and mixed it with fresh apple cider and it was very tasty.
Noemi,
This is a pretty drinkable and enjoyable rum but I didn't think it was super special. I appreciate its sweetness and spice but would explore others before buying again.
Larry,
Buttery smooth. Not too sweet. Very good digestif.
Kari,
More like a cognac than a rum, but I enjoyed!
Elizabeth,
This was the bottle we selected as part of our quarterly tasting box allocation. Although it was highly rated, it came "corked," which I understand is exceedingly rare for spirits; however, not unheard of. It smells and tastes much like a corked bottle of wine - moldy. I could smell it right away upon opening and the taste confirmed my initial suspicion. I am sorry that I will likely never know what it is supposed to taste like, but I am not going to pay for it twice.
David,
My experience with rum is dark, syrupy, sickly sweet. This is deep red amber, smooth, barely sweet yet just sweet enough. Absolutely delicious. Might make a good mixed drink for those who go that way, but I take it neat. Sip and savor.
Jim,
Nice sipping rum. Tastes great neat or on the rocks. I'm a Bourbon guy and I am very particular about rums. This one passes my test. Will be added to my bar.
Derek,
Wouldn’t even know it’s rum. Smooth and flavorful. Definitely picking up another bottle.
Brian,
An absolutely delicious take on rum! The dark chocolate and caramel mixture is phenomenal. Give it a try mixed with some Rum Chata and you will be thanking me
Christina,
This rum is smooth and sweet enough to drink straight, but pairs especially well with coffee and cream, or strawberries
Eric,
A delicious mix of 14 and 5 year rums, Brugal’s 1888 rum is a smooth-tasting rum which works well over ice, or in your favorite cocktail!
Brian,
Has a weird metallic aftertaste.
Josh,
Big hit of coffee and chocolate on the nose with a hint of cinnamon and spices.
Then Toffee, caramel on the taste. Maybe a bit of wood, but I don't notice the licorice until it fades in on the front of the finish
Cullen,
Tasted like rubbing alcohol.
Charles,
Smooth, depth of flavor and the sweetness comes through at the end. This quite possibly could be my new go to rum for sipping. For the price, a great find!
Ryan,
I’m not much of a rum guy but I really like this. I made a version of an Old Fashioned with 2 parts bourbon and 1 part rum, add simple syrup and butters to taste. Awesome.
Troy,
I did not enjoy this rum. It's fairly rough. I like a rum I can sip even though I normally mix. This rum wasn't enjoyable by itself or mixed. It's likely just my palate, but I was disappointed.
Don,
This was a great bottle to have around and share with friends. Not super sugary or sweet. Just right.
Curtis,
Yum. Like an extremely alcoholic banana that just ripened blew up in my mouth.
J,
Nice flavor profile. Smooth, but nothing overly special. Great bottle to keep around for a nightcap or to share.
Jared,
Very smooth, you can drink it neat or on the rocks.
Dan,
Excellent
Adam,
Extra smooth and flavorful run. Just the right balance of spicy and smooth
Saville,
Really liked this rum. Smooth flavor, easy to mix and enjoy over ice. It's going to make a great Xmas gift for a friend!
jonathan,
it's got notes of whiskey flavors, but from a scotch/whiskey drinker... this is still very much a sweet tasting rum.
Eric,
Nice stuff.
jonathan,
accurately described as a bridge between whisky and rum. definitely rum forward, with flavors of oak and smoke and other whisky flavors. but for a whisky drinker, it doesnt have the bite.
Roger,
Super smooth with an oak taste that's not too strong. Great on it's own or mixed
Melanie,
My knowledge of rum is not tremendous, but I really enjoyed this bottle. Very smooth on its own, both neat and with a bit of ice. It also made an excellent Dark and Stormy.
Steven,
Simply DELICIOUS sipping rum. Wonderful on its own
Robert,
Love this rum with Coke
Dalia,
Smooth rum, enjoyable, subtle oak flavor. A great mixer
Gene,
Very good rum with a nice balance of oak and vanilla with a smooth and somewhat sweet finish. I mixed this with fresh Apple Cider and it made for a nice fall drink. I will definitely order this again.
Dana,
I didn’t enjoy this at all. Just didn’t enjoy the taste.
John,
Smooth, good mouth feel, a little vanilla to tone down the oak. Well balanced and just a hint of sweet. Good buy and made me look into rum more instead of only whiskey.
Erik,
Really enjoyed the mixed drinks I made with this
Connor,
Pretty decent to sip and mix with a Coke
Katherine,
Heavy but refined oak meets with vanilla and honeyed notes. Medium finish. I wish there was something to bridge the oak to the sweet, maybe a little char or something? But this was a good buy. I'm more a fan of Kirk & Sweeney.
Robert,
Smooth, tasty, gone
Newell,
Wonderful flavors of caramel, oak and vanilla. Not too sweet, nice mouth feel and complexity. Perfect meet in a Brandy snifter, but should also be a great complement with a ball of ice and a cigar.
Brian,
Wow! Love this rum. Smooth, good flavor. Be careful if you get this. It will dissappear quickly!
Jason,
A nice departure from peaty Islay’s but much smoother than I expected. Good but, but not super complex. Enjoy!
Ryan,
Solid Caribbean rum
Brady,
Really enjoyed this! I’m not usually a rum drinker, however this was a pleasant surprise on the pallet. It was amazingly smooth. The tasting notes put you in a tropical paradise.
John,
Very bitter. Not sure what flavor it is, but caused the hairs on my arm to go up. Mixes well with coke.
Stephen,
I love coffee, chocolate, and caramel. This was warm and smooth, great to sip on and relax.
Bob,
I absolutely love this rum. The flavors hit every part of my pallet. I find this to be smooth with a very slit warming at the back of my mouth with the finish. I love having this after a long day with a nice cigar. Highly recommend. This will stay on my bar.
Emily,
I didn’t care for it. The wood notes were so prominent for me that it tasted like sucking on a tongue depressor.
Michael,
One rum I will be buying again! Smooth, spicy and not too sweet. Nice by itself but enjoyed it mixed with a little Coke Zero and a lime wedge.
Katie,
Really smooth
Phillip,
I get too much of what I am guessing is the licorice flavor to truly enjoy it.
Francesco,
Super smooth finish. Great taste
Kevin,
Beautiful smooth rum! Hints of chocolate sweetness
Richard,
Very smooth and flavorful
Todd,
Gave as gift; not a heavy rum connoisseur, did try a glass neat(@ start). Wow a heavy spice kick upon the nose, a little less upon the tounge. Was anticipating a little sweeter after taste, but never came. Ended up with a splash of coke on the first one and full mix on the next 2. Better than Bacardi and Malibu style when mixing, but shipping for this one took 4 weeks.
Tom,
Great Rum
Daniel,
I did it on ice,straight, and with coconut water and it was fantastic all 3 ways but straight up I could taste the spices and citrus better
Chris,
If you are a whiskey drinker and you are looking for something to compliment those tastes, this is the perfect rum for you. Flavors of toffee and caramel first hit your taste buds and a lingering liquorice finish. This will become a staple of my bar cart.
Russell,
Great bang for the buck! Great packaging
Stuart,
Decent rum, personally I prefer the Brugal XV.
This is a little harsh with a butterscotch taste which I liked
Robert,
Eh! It was ok, I am a Bourbon drinker and this really didn't fit my tastes. It is a smooth sipper, but I will probably experiment with it to find a way to perk up the flavor.
Jerome,
This is good stuff! It has a light caramel taste but not too sweet. It finishes smooth with just a little heat.
Robert,
Good rum, nothing stood out to me compared to other rums.
Shaeli,
Possibly a good mixer, not a straight sipper for me.
Jason,
Outstanding
Michael,
This is a rum for the bourbon drinker. Smooth and flavor a normal bourbon drinker like me should like.
Darwin,
So much better than the usual Brugal.
James,
Undrinkable unless mixed
James,
I got this because the description said if you like whiskey you would like this rum. I do not. To me it is undrinkable unless mixed with something overpowering.
Jeff,
Really good! Many layers of flavor.
Michael,
Smooth and semi sweet. Delicious!
Lee,
I just finished the Extra Mile tasting box of rums then broke out my bottle of 1888. Even after tasting 3 other rums, 1888 was the best. Great value as well.
Michael,
Great smooth Rum
Lee,
I have been waiting for the weather to get a little warmer to try this bottle. Yesterday was the day and worth the wait. A great sipper.
Dan,
So good. Like bourbon
Stefanie,
WHOA, this is WAY too easy to drink straight. So incredibly tasty and smooth, we're trying to ration ourselves from having a glass every night, but will definitely be ordering more
Joseph,
Caramel Oak tasting notes were awesome! Enjoyed this bottle for sure.
Jason,
Such a great beginning and ending taste
Jennifer,
Just good! Whether on it’s on it’s own or mixed.
MIGUEL,
Good rum, not too sweet, not to oaky. Easy to drink or mix but not sure if I would buy another bottle because there are so many better Rums out there that I like. Very good rum though.
Doug,
I think this is a good rum with a nice depth and complexity. It is a bit heavy on the back side with respect to the alcohol burn, but has a nice caramelly flavor on the front side and then a vanilla follows the burn for a nice finish. As rums are not my usual go-to, I don't have a large pool to compare against, but it is good neat, which has to mean something, right?
Cherie,
This was my choice in first quarter order...please restock this as I wish to reorder in January.
The rum is extremely rich in complex mouth and nose experiences. Many of my favorite ingredients. I'll need to find another way to order this if unavailable through you.
Neat or mixed... it's superb !
Angela,
good sipping rum. a little burn on the finish, but good overall
George,
Very VERY good rum!!!
John,
Very woody and hogo funkiness up front, then molasses and spice on the way out. A good sipper.
Jeff,
Good sipping rum. Not too sweet. Pairs nicely with your favorite cigars
Thomas,
Too much alcohol as an aftertaste. Otherwise sweetness is not over-powering. Strong caramel flavor and smell.
Cherie,
Really enjoyed this neat and in Mai Tai cocktail.
Having tasting with friends and family in November and December.
Ryan,
Dangerously smooth ever so lightly sweet at the end.
Matthew,
An awesome bottle and surprisingly smoky after taste that leaves you wanting more, a great sipping rum.
Bruce,
Love the spirit. I want it to be an 8, but it feels like it’s trying to be something it’s not. There are conflicting flavors. The sweet molasses is in hiding but the traditional oak cask flavors aren’t taking over. Don’t get me wrong, it’s delicious... but not a home run.
Scott,
Seemed a lot lighter and less sweet than other rums. Really pleasant and nicely balanced.
Kenneth,
really good, smooth mellow, full of flavor and not to sweet
Phil,
This bottle was a neat treat! A couple years back I went to Puerto Plata DR for vacation and had the opportunity to tour Brugal. I was impressed by their operations and rums but didn't get the chance to purchase any. 1888 is definitely a good rum for whiskey drinkers. Not very sweet ... nice spicy aroma and very woody taste. Okay on its own (would probably be tasting neat or on the rocks) but I love it in rum and cokes!
Sonali,
A yummy rum for those who like whisk(e)y but find bourbon to be too sweet. Nice toffee and caramel notes & little sweet and spicy notes. Dry and not sticky. It's very drinkable and makes a nice run floater atop of a pina colada.
guest,
Pretty good. Didn’t sit well with me though near the end of the bottle. Maybe I had a bad bottle with contaminants near the end.
John,
The description is accurate. It's kind of a hybrid.
guest,
Decent rum, buy a bottle to change it up once in awhile.