What’s the oldest rum producer in Puerto Rico? Hint: It’s not the ubiquitous brand with a bat on the label. (Bacardí originated in Cuba.) The distinction belongs to Ron de Barrilito, made by the Fernández family at Hacienda Santa Ana in Bayamón since the late 1700s and officially registered in 1880.
Ron del Barrilito — a rum blender, not a distiller — decided to take a cue from cognac producers and mellow its spirit in casks after a family member returned from studying engineering in France. (It’s also the origin story for the brand’s name: Since the rum was originally doled out directly from small casks to friends and family, it was affectionately nicknamed “rum from the little barrel.”)
Today the company produces four core expressions which increase in age, complexity and price. All are blended in small batches and aged in Oloroso sherry barrels with no sugar or caramel color added, bottled at 86 proof and hand labeled.
The smooth, dulce de leche profile of the cocktail-friendly Two Stars, made with rums 3 to 5 years old, solidly overperforms in drinks like the daiquiri or mojito. A few extra years of slumbering in the cask lends added viscosity and notes of vanilla and butterscotch to Three Stars — perfect in a rum old fashioned.

© Ron del Barrilito
The longest-matured offerings, designed for sipping, offer depth, layered nuances and distinct profiles. Four Stars, blending 10- to 20-year-old rums, starts round on the palate, with a dry, lengthy coffee finish. Five Stars, with rums ranging 15–35 years, is robust, broodier and punchier, with ginger and pepper notes and a maple and honeyed finish.
The brand garnered a following among bartenders and rum aficionados, and the older expressions can be frustratingly difficult to find. You can tour, taste, purchase and more at the facility, an easy ride from San Juan. The Heritage Tour schools guests on the brand’s history with a visit to the hacienda’s mansion and windmill and a peek into the production facility and barrel rooms. The Tasting Tour also includes a guided experience through the core lineup; both include a libation at its cocktail bar.
The bar program truly sets apart a visit to Ron del Barrilito. Guests get their own bar setup during the Mixology Tour with tools, spirits, mixers, bitters and garnishes to brush up their home cocktail game. Shake, stir and sip three signature concoctions, including a made-from-scratch piña colada.
Whether you book a tour or just stop by the gift shop to snag a bottle, end your visit at the stylish cocktail bar for classic and tiki rum sips, old fashioneds and cocktails of the month. These might include a daiquiri with passion fruit, vanilla extract and cinnamon; or a Jungle Bird variation called the Iguana. For espresso martini fans, Tu Café mixes Three Stars Rum with Averna, coffee syrup and chocolate bitters, topped with coconut foam. It’s unique and surprising … just like a visit here.
Read This Next

Introducing
FX Excursions
FX Excursions offers the chance for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in destinations around the world.
#globility
Insta FeedCruises
May 17, 2025Viking Takes Delivery of Newest River Ship in Europe
Officially delivered March 18, Viking’s newest Longship Viking Nerthus was presented at Meyer’s Neptun Werft shipyard in Rostock Warneműnde, Germany. Accommodating up to 168 guests, Viking Nerthus spans 84 staterooms, all featuring Viking’s signature Scandinavian design.
Sponsored Content
Royal Air Maroc Introduces Groundbreaking Safety Video: A Captivating Invitation to Discover Moroccan Heritage
Royal Air Maroc continues to elevate the passenger experience with the launch of its new in-flight safety video — a cinematic journey that seamlessly blends essential safety instructions with a celebration of Moroccan cultural heritage.
Daily
May 16, 2025New Kosovo Philharmonic Opera, Ballet and Theatre Hall to Open This Year
A new opera and ballet theater in Kosovo will house four performance halls and a new public plaza in the capital city of Prishtina. As the first opera house in the Republic of Kosovo, the theater symbolizes the country’s rich and diverse cultural heritage while reflecting a new identity for Prishtina, rooted in creativity and a commitment to the country’s artistic growth.
Daily
May 16, 2025Inkaterra Hotels Make a Peru Trip Unforgettable
Looking to plan the ultimate trip to Peru, but not sure where to start? Inkaterra is here to help. With properties in multiple cities throughout the country and various immersive itineraries, Inkaterra makes it easy for your dream trip to Peru to come to life.
Sponsored Content
Sail Unique with Explora Journeys
SAIL UNIQUE: A New Chapter in Luxury Ocean Travel Imagine a place where modern European elegance meets the rhythm of the sea — where time slows down, and every detail is crafted to inspire connection and quiet indulgence. This is Explora Journeys, the luxury lifestyle ocean brand from MSC Group created to redefine how we explore the world.
Daily
May 16, 2025“Le Commandant Charcot” Will Complete Full Antarctica Circumnavigation in 2028
PONANT EXPLORATIONS will soon achieve a new world first when its Le Commandant Charcot will embark on a full circumnavigation of Antarctica, departing from Ushuaia, Argentina, from January to March 2028. This polar expedition unlike any before will journey nearly 11,200 miles of remote, uncharted coastline of the White Continent.
Culture Runs Deep in the Old Town of Corfu
May 2025
May 15, 2025Daily
May 14, 20256 Unforgettable Dining Experiences Around the World
Hungry for adventure? These destinations offer unique dining experiences worth the trip.
Sponsored Content
Royal Air Maroc Marks Five Years with oneworld: Strengthening Connectivity Between USA and Africa and Expanding Global Reach
Royal Air Maroc proudly enters its fifth year as a member of the prestigious oneworld alliance. Since joining in April 2020, RAM has demonstrated resilience during the COVID-19 pandemic, emerging as a dynamic airline that enhanced its digital services and expanded its network. The airline plans to grow its fleet to 200 aircraft by 2037, reinforcing its global presence.
eFlyer Reviews
May 14, 2025Hotel Van Zandt Review
One step onto Austin’s Rainey Street and you’ll feel like you’ve joined the cool kids at the best playground in the city. Just behind the cottage bars, pint-sized skyscrapers soar. One of them, Hotel Van Zandt, the Rainey district's pièce de resistance, beckons with a song-like spirit —apropos because the independently owned property, rife with music motifs, was named after beloved singer-songwriter Townes Van Zandt. Sixteen stories high, the hotel embodies Austin’s lust for music, manifesting with a vinyl corner; trumpet chandeliers; myriad musical references; replica vintage posters in frames; and its own live music venue, which doubles as its acclaimed restaurant, Geraldine’s. Don’t miss the mesmerizing installation of colorful origami-like birds composed from vinyl records that flitter from an old phonograph.
ShareThis