Ron Barcelo Imperial Onyx Rum
Ron Barcelo Imperial Onyx Rum is the dark side of the Imperial line — 750mL at 40% ABV (80 proof), a blend of Dominican cane-juice rums aged 10 years in heavily charred ex-bourbon barrels, then filtered through actual onyx stones — and you can order it online at Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA.
- ABV: 40% (80 proof — US 750mL; EU 700mL is 38%)
- Size: 750mL
- Age: 10 years in heavy-char ex-bourbon casks
- Origin: San Pedro de Macorís, Dominican Republic — Barceló & Co.
- Production: fermented estate-grown sugarcane juice (not molasses); onyx-stone filtration; amber mahogany color
- Score: Wine Enthusiast 94 points
Ten Years in Heavy Char, Finished in Stone
Where the Imperial Gold uses lighter toast, the Onyx goes to heavily charred bourbon casks for a full decade — then takes the unusual step of filtration through onyx stones, the brand's signature "mystical" finishing touch. It pours coffee-dark amber mahogany: toasted aromas of cherry, coffee and dried fruit over deep wood and vanilla, and a silky palate of caramel, brown butter, dried fig and walnut that runs long and gently spiced. Released in the US in 2018, it was the house's answer to drinkers who wanted the Imperial profile turned up. Explore the rum collection at Del Mesa Liquor, and see the rest of the line from Ron Barcelo.
Tasting Notes
Toasted wood, cherry, coffee and dried fruits with deep vanilla. Silky palate — caramel, brown butter, dried figs, walnut — finishing long, gently spiced, with persistent woody undertones.
How to Enjoy
Sip neat or on the rocks to catch the full arc from cherry to coffee to spice. Its weight also carries a tropical Old Fashioned or a dark Daiquiri.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the ABV of Barcelo Imperial Onyx?
40% ABV (80 proof) on the US 750mL; the international 700mL is 38%.
What does "filtered through onyx stones" mean?
After aging, the rum is filtered through actual onyx stones — the finishing step that gives the expression its name and, per the brand, its extra richness.
How is Onyx different from Imperial Gold?
Onyx uses heavily charred casks for a full 10 years plus onyx-stone filtration — darker, deeper, more intense than the flagship.
Is Barcelo Onyx good for cocktails?
Yes — its depth makes a standout dark Daiquiri or rum Old Fashioned.
For drinkers who like their rum turned up — order Ron Barcelo Imperial Onyx Rum online from Del Mesa Liquor in San Diego, CA.