Kirk and Sweeney Gran Reserva Rum
Kirk and Sweeney Gran Reserva Rum is a 40% ABV (80 proof) Dominican rum in a 750mL bottle — aged 18 years in American oak casks from raw sugarcane distillate at the historic Bermudez Rum Distillery in Santiago de los Caballeros, the younger, value-positioned sibling of the flagship 23-year Gran Reserva Superior, available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA.
- ABV: 40% (80 proof)
- Size: 750mL
- Age: 18 years in American oak casks
- Production: raw sugarcane distillate, American oak casks
- Origin: Dominican Republic — Bermudez Rum Distillery, Santiago de los Caballeros (est. 1852); brand by 3 Badge Beverage Corp, Sonoma County, CA
- Awards: 96 pts, Tasting Panel (June 2015); 5 stars, F. Paul Pacult's Spirit Journal (Sept. 2015); 93 pts, Wine Enthusiast (June 2017)
Eighteen Years, Honest Price
Same Prohibition-era schooner on the label, same jug-style bottle with the smuggling-route map, same Bermudez Distillery pedigree — the Gran Reserva simply trades the Superior's 23-year reserves and sherried depth for an 18-year American-oak profile at a friendlier price. Eighteen years in oak is still serious aging by any standard, and the scores reflect it: 96 points from the Tasting Panel, five stars from F. Paul Pacult's Spirit Journal, 93 from Wine Enthusiast. Expect vanilla, sherry, and dried fruit rather than the Superior's darker toffee-and-fig register. Shop the Kirk and Sweeney collection, step up to the 23-year Gran Reserva Superior when the occasion calls, or browse the full rum shelf.
Tasting Notes
Vanilla bean, golden raisin, and a sherry-nut nuttiness over toasted oak and light molasses. Softer and brighter than the Superior — medium-full bodied, with dried fruit and baking spice lingering on the finish.
How to Enjoy
Neat or on a large cube for the full 18-year character. At this price it's also one of the best-aged rums you can put in a rum old fashioned or a split-base daiquiri.
Frequently Asked Questions
How old is the Gran Reserva?
18 years in American oak casks — the younger sibling of the 23-year Gran Reserva Superior.
Which Kirk and Sweeney should I buy?
The Gran Reserva (18-year) for everyday sipping and cocktails; the Gran Reserva Superior (23-year) for special-occasion sipping.
Where is it made?
The Dominican Republic, at the Bermudez Rum Distillery in Santiago de los Caballeros — distilling since 1852.
What does the bottle look like?
A distinctive low-set jug with a raised cork and an imprinted Prohibition-era smuggling-route map.
Proven 18-year Dominican rum without the special-occasion markup — order Kirk and Sweeney Gran Reserva online from Del Mesa Liquor in San Diego, CA.