Before I really got into rum, I just vaguely knew that I preferred rum to other spirits. I liked Bacardi Superior over vodka, whiskey, or tequila, no matter how good or high quality they were. At some point, my uncle bought Bacardi 8, and I remember trying it and thinking “huh… Bacardi can actually make something pretty good”. It didn’t blow me away, but I was impressed that Bacardi could make such a nice product.

This past Memorial Day, I wanted to bring a rum that can atone for the fact that I brought Bumbu to that same BBQ the year before. I wanted to bring something good, but also something that wasn’t too complex or crazy that might scare people away from rum. So, Bacardi 8 seemed like the obvious pick.

Note: The age statement is 8 years, but it notes that the blend can contain rum that is up to 16 years old.

Review

I’ll be comparing this rum to Ron Santiago de Cuba 8 Year and Angostura 7 Year, two other similar light column-still rums aged for a similar amount of time.

Smell

I get very little on the nose. No wood notes, no alcohol burn, just very clean. Maybe the tiniest hint of orange peel. Ron Santiago 8 is much more floral and green appley, and angostura 7 is more woody with bolder vanilla.

Taste

It’s just light across the board. I get a bit of vanilla, a bit of coconut, a hint of orange peel, and it doesn’t even burn much just drinking it straight. It’s also pretty sweet. Angostura 7 is harsher on the alcohol, but it’s bold with woody and oak flavor, with a light anise and fennel finish. Ron Santiago is bold, floral, flavorful, and incredible. It’s my favorite Cuban-style rum.

In a daiquiri it’s fine. Light, crisp, and clean. Lime and sweetness comes through, but the rum is just absent. Even Brugal Añejo makes a better daiquiri.

Verdict 5/10

There’s nothing really wrong with Bacardi 8, other than it being sweeter than I prefer. It’s not offensive, it’s just a pretty boring sipper and a pretty boring mixer, and is middle of the road in every way. It really doesn’t taste that much better or different from Bacardi Gold. I would much rather have a Cuban rum, and even Angostura 7 is slightly better. 5/10

As for the Memorial Day BBQ, nobody tried it. :(