Is Kirkland Barrel Aged Rum Actually Good? (Spoiler Alert: YES.)

Is Kirkland Barrel Aged (12-Year Old) Rum…good? An Internet search for reviews or a quick glance at Reddit would have you believe that people are "gagging" and "dumping this **** down the drain." I call shenanigans! I've tasted it, enjoyed it, and emptied more of it down my gullet than the sink. 

I'm no rum expert, but I've sampled enough premium and less-than-premium varieties in my travels to know what I like. For me, Gosling's Family Reserve preserved in black wax (the inspiration for their Black Seal brand, by the way) sets the standard for sipping. I've never been let down by Pusser's (if it was good enough for the Royal Navy...). I've even had some interesting nights with Captain Morgan and survived the discontinued Bacardi 151 fireballs (not the cinnamon kind). So, yeah, I've got a baseline. And let me tell you, this Kirkland Barrel Aged Rum is a pleasant surprise.

Rum 101

For those with an aversion to science, here’s a super-simplified version of how rum is made:

1. Sugarcane: They take sugarcane and squeeze out the sweet juice. (Maximize that sugar for alcohol production later!)
2. Fermentation: Yeast is invited to the party, and the whole thing gets turnt! This juice is then fermented, which is a fancy way of saying the yeast eats the sugar, and then expels alcohol and carbon dioxide.
3. Distillation: The fermented liquid is distilled at high heat and then cooled, which concentrates the alcohol. 
4. Aging: The rum is aged in oak barrels, which gives it its color, flavor, and smoothness. (This is where the 12-year business is a big deal, folks. This Kirkland Rum is patiently waiting to be put back in circulation for over a decade!)

Kirkland 12 Year Old

Now, let's get down to specifics: Kirkland's Barrel-Aged rum. This isn't your spring break, drink as much as you can for a fixed price, headache-inducing rum. This stuff is smooth! This is where the Kirkland Barrel-Aged Rum gets exceptional. It's spent more years in the barrel than most doctors spend in school. It’s got notes of concentrated brown sugar, vanilla oak, and subtle dark fruit flavors. It's complex enough to sip neat (just be an adult for once!) but it also plays well in cocktails. Think classic Daiquiris, a Dark & Stormy, or even just a simple Rum and Coke (a Cuba Libre if you're fancy!) And at twenty bucks, I don't feel sheepish mixing it into anything.

Is it the most complex rum I have ever had? No. It has mellow flavors, but it is pretty simple. And that's the only real shoulder shrug about this rum. I thought it would taste stronger or have a more grown up palette for resting 12 years in the barrel. But for $20, it exceeds the maturity and refined flavors that similarly priced bottles have. It might not even need the Age Statement; I'd still say this is a very good tasting bottle of "aged" rum in exchange for an Andrew Jackson.

In Conclusion

So, the next time you're at Costco, skip the giant bags of rice (unless you’re making your own sake) and head straight for the liquor aisle. Grab a bottle of Kirkland Signature Barrel Aged Rum. Your wallet will thank you, your taste buds will thank you, and you'll have some seriously good rum to share with your friends (or keep all to yourself, I won't judge).

So, let's return to our original question. Is Kirkland 12-Year Old Rum actually good? Yes. It's really good. And when you consider that it is about $20 a bottle (I paid $20.99), I dare say that the rum is"very good" and will have a space for it on my shelf as long as the bottle lasts.

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