Ron del Barrilito 3 Stars.
Spirit of Gallo, the California-based alcohol powerhouse behind High Noon Vodka Seltzer, Camarena Tequila and New Amsterdam Vodka, is expanding its portfolio with investments in a pair of liquor brands, The Spirits Business reported Tuesday.
Gallo has reportedly made "strategic investments" in Ron del Barrilito, the oldest continually produced Puerto Rican rum brand, and Mexico's Mezcal Derrumbes. While the company has previously ventured into rum with imprints like RumChata and Shellback, Derrumbes represents its first foray into the increasingly trendy mezcal category.
The exact terms of the deal have yet to be disclosed, so it's currently unclear whether Gallo bought a majority or minority stake in either distiller.
Ron del Barrilito dates its centuries-old origins to Bayamón, Puerto Rico, where it was first produced under the eye of Fernando Fernández in 1880. The famed distiller remained in the hands of the Fernández family until 2017, when the brand was bought out by Joaquin Bacardi, the former CEO of the Bacardi Corporation. Barrilito has maintained momentum over the years with an exclusive single-cask selection program and a $12 million distillery expansion; if you're hoping to try one of its bottlings, we'd recommend its 3 Stars expression.
“With an incredible legacy, Ron del Barrilito rum is poised to capitalize on the growth in the super-premium-plus rum category,” Britt West, executive vice-president and general manager at Gallo, said, according to The Spirits Business. "To win in rum, we know it needs to be super-premium-plus. Ron del Barrilito has a strong heritage story, existing affinity amongst the trade, and robust quality statements that make it a valuable addition to our portfolio."
In contrast, Mezcal Derrumbes was founded in 2012 by Esteban Morales and Sergio Mendoza, the creators of La Venenosa Raicilla and Tequila Don Fulano. Gallo last collaborated with the pair in 2020 to become the exclusive importer of Don Fulano in the US — today, the brand is one of the most recognized names in the additive-free agave spirits category.
Each of Derrumbes' expressions pays homage to a different state and agave varietal within Mexico, with a particular focus on its core three offerings dubbed Oaxaca, Durango and San Luis Potosí. In partnership with Gallo, we expect the mezcal to begin popping up on liquor store shelves with increasing frequency in years to come.
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