🥃 Brugal 1888
Dominican Brugal rum with double ageing: first whiskey casks, then sherry casks; 40% ABV.
Brugal 1888 is a Dominican rum with double ageing from Brugal, named after the year the brand was founded. According to Difford's Guide, it was created before the company's centenary, in 1988. Cigar Aficionado gives its strength as 40% ABV and the blend as rums aged from five to fourteen years.
The rum first matures in American oak casks that held whiskey, as does the rest of the Brugal range. It then ages a second time in European oak casks that previously held sherry. According to the same source, the casks were chosen by George Espie, the wood master of The Macallan, and all the casks lay horizontally. Reviews give the age differently between versions, so check the label.
Why this matters to you. Brugal 1888 stands out for its sherry-cask finish, which the Añejo and Extra Viejo do not have. Compare by cask, age range and strength, not by name. Ageing changes the taste but does not make the drink safer: the WHO reminds us that there is no safe amount of alcohol.
Facts
| Year founded | created before the brand's centenary, 1988 (per Difford's Guide) |
|---|---|
| Raw material | molasses (Dominican Republic) |
| Cask type | former American whiskey casks, then European oak that held sherry |
| Minimum maturation | blend of rums aged 5–14 years (per Cigar Aficionado) |
| Alcohol (% vol.) | 40% ABV (per Cigar Aficionado) |
How it connects to Spirits
🥃 Brugal 1888 → packed in → 🍷 Oak barrel ← packed in ← 🥃 Spirits
Links
- Packed in
- 🍷 Oak barrel, 🍷 Sherry, 🥃 Ex-bourbon barrel
- Made from
- 🥃 Sugar cane and molasses
- What it contains
- 🍷 Ethanol
- What it affects
- 🍷 Alcohol and health, 🍷 Drunk driving
- Part of
- 🥃 Brugal, 🥃 Rum
- Similar and different
- 🥃 Brugal Añejo, 🥃 Brugal Añejo, 🥃 Brugal XV, 🥃 Brugal XV
Frequently asked questions
Is it true that 1888 is the age of the rum?
No. 1888 is the year the brand was founded, not the age of the rum.
What is the strength of Brugal 1888?
40% ABV according to Cigar Aficionado. Check the label.
How does the ageing differ?
After American whiskey casks, the rum gets a second ageing in European sherry casks.
What to read next
- 🍷 Alcohol and health — Alcohol in any drink is harmful in large amounts, and the risks grow with the quantity.
- 🍷 Ethanol — The alcohol formed during fermentation that makes you drunk.
- 🍷 Oak barrel — A wooden barrel of oak staves in which wine matures and breathes.
- 🥃 Brugal Añejo — The core aged version of Dominican Brugal rum: a blend of 2–5 year rums matured in former American whiskey casks.
- 🍷 Drunk driving — Never drive after drinking wine: alcohol slows your reactions.
Similar
🥃 Brugal Extra Viejo · 🥃 Brugal XV · 🥃 Brugal Añejo · 🥃 Barceló Añejo · 🥃 Barceló Gran Añejo · 🥃 Barceló Imperial
⚠️ Spirit drinks contain alcohol and are for adults only. Alcohol harms health. Do not drink during pregnancy or before driving; check the label for ingredients and possible allergens.
Sources
- Cigar Aficionado: Brugal unveils 1888 rum (5–14 years, sherry finish, European oak, 40 %; Extra Viejo 5–8 years)
- Difford's Guide: Brugal & Company (Añejo Superior 1952, Extra Viejo 1976, Gran Reserva Familiar, 1888, XV: ages and casks)
- WHO/Europe: No level of alcohol consumption is safe for our health (04.01.2023)