Ron Del Barrilito Don Pedro Fernández Selection III Aged Rum Limited Edition 1994
31 years old | 750mL | 43.6% ABV (87.1 proof) — The "1994" in the name is the year the cask was laid to rest: Cask #3057, a single ex-Oloroso sherry cask tucked away in the Hacienda Santa Ana warehouse in Bayamón, Puerto Rico, for 31 years. Ron del Barrilito Don Pedro Fernández Selection III is the third release in the brand's Autobiografía series of single-cask rums — and the first to reach the U.S. market nationally (announced November 2025). Just 186 bottles were produced. No solera system, no added sugar or coloring. Available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor in San Diego, CA.
The release pays tribute to founder Don Pedro Fernández, who studied cognac making in France, returned to Puerto Rico in 1871 and established the brand in 1880. The Autobiografía series honors his practice of setting aside exceptional barrels for extended personal maturation — the Fernández family flagged Cask #3057 more than 20 years ago for its long-term potential, and as the brand notes, most casks of this age either evaporate empty or become too concentrated to bottle as single casks. The methods are deliberately old-school: low-proof barrel entry just above eventual bottling strength, harvested rainwater aged alongside the rum to minimize post-aging proofing, and barrels filled and left untouched until bottling. Master blender Luis Planas: "This rum is a reflection of the decades-long marriage between spirit, air, and ex-sherry cask. It delivers a naturally balanced yet complex masterpiece — a glimpse into the beauty and uniqueness of true single-cask aging." Among aged rums, a 31-year single-cask tropical-matured bottle in this quantity is a genuine collector event. (Selections I and II — a 1991 barrel, 143 bottles; a 1997 barrel, 229 bottles — sold exclusively at the Hacienda visitor center.)
Tasting notes
Official blender note (Luis Planas): "naturally balanced yet complex." Retailer notes (labeled as such, not official): aroma of dried figs, raisins, toasted nuts, dark caramel, vanilla, cocoa, leather, subtle spice; palate of molasses, toffee, dark chocolate, dried fruit, roasted coffee, warm baking spice; deep mahogany color; exceptionally long, elegant, warming finish.
Why buy it from Del Mesa Liquor
- 31 years — 750mL; single ex-Oloroso sherry cask (#3057), laid down 1994
- Only 186 bottles produced; third Autobiografía release, first nationally in the U.S.
- Hacienda Santa Ana, Bayamón, Puerto Rico — no solera, no added sugar or coloring
- Tribute to founder Don Pedro Fernández (est. 1880); the family's own flagship barrel
- Available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor
How to serve it
Neat, room temperature, in a snifter or Glencairn — a 31-year single cask deserves nothing else. Let it breathe a few minutes.
Frequently asked questions
What does "1994" mean in the name?
It's the year the single cask (#3057) was laid down to age — not a brand founding date. The rum is 31 years old.
How many bottles were produced?
186 bottles, from one ex-Oloroso sherry cask.
Is this a solera rum?
No — it's a true single cask with no solera system and no added sugar or coloring.
What is the Autobiografía series?
Ron del Barrilito's series of single-cask rums drawn from barrels the Fernández family set aside decades ago; Selections I and II were sold only at the Hacienda Santa Ana visitor center.