Don Pancho 8 Year Old Rum
Don Pancho 8 Year Old Rum is the everyday expression of the Origenes line — 750mL at 40% ABV (80 proof), a true 8-year age statement aged in Kentucky ex-bourbon oak in Panama — and you can order it online at Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA.
- ABV: 40% (80 proof)
- Size: 750mL
- Age: True age-stated — the youngest rum in the blend is 8 years
- Casks: American oak ex-bourbon casks, Kentucky-sourced
- Origin: Panama — Las Cabras de Pesé, Herrera; estate sugarcane, proprietary yeast, legacy copper column stills; produced and bottled in Panama, imported by Terlato Wines
- Awards: 90 points, "Best Buy," Wine Enthusiast (2015); 95 points, VinePair (2020)
The Golden-Age Cuban Profile
Don Pancho made the 8 Year Old to recreate the rum he drank as a young man in Cuba — back when seven and eight years were the oldest rums available in Havana's golden age. It is Cuban-style rum making in Panama's Herrera region: hand-harvested estate cane, his own proprietary yeast, legacy copper column stills, eight years in Kentucky oak. Wine Enthusiast called it bold and sweet in vanilla, caramel and oak with clove and lemon zest, a 90-point Best Buy; VinePair went further at 95. Shop the rum collection at Del Mesa Liquor, browse aged rums, or explore Don Pancho.
Tasting Notes
Initial aromas of caramel, raw vanilla bean, cassia and roasted nuts lead to leather and charred oak over sherry, muscovado and vegetal cane. The palate opens with buttery caramel, vanilla and leather, balanced by bitter nuttiness and a hint of fennel; toasty oak builds before drying out mid-palate with a relatively long, slow fade. Sweet cherry, maple sugar and oaken vanilla weave through; reviewers call it a bottle that will entice bourbon drinkers and win over cognac fans.
How to Enjoy
Sip it neat or on the rocks — or mix it: the 8 Year is the versatile expression of the line, built for both the tasting glass and a proper rum cocktail.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Don Pancho 8 really 8 years old?
Yes — true age-stated; the youngest rum in the blend is eight years, aged in American ex-bourbon oak in Panama.
Where is Don Pancho 8 Year Old made?
Panama, at the Las Cabras Distillery in Herrera — estate sugarcane and the maker's own yeast strain, imported to the US by Terlato Wines.
What awards has Don Pancho 8 won?
90 points and a Best Buy nod from Wine Enthusiast (2015), plus 95 points from VinePair (2020).
Is Don Pancho 8 good for bourbon drinkers?
Yes — its sweet caramel core, oak and vanilla profile is frequently cited as a crossover pour for bourbon and cognac drinkers.
Havana's golden age, bottled in Panama — order Don Pancho 8 Year Old Rum online from Del Mesa Liquor in San Diego, CA.