Puerto Rican producer Ron del Barrilito has announced the U.S. debut of Don Pedro Fernández Selection III, a 31-year-old single-cask rum. The limited edition expression, part of the brand’s Autobiografía series, was aged in a single ex-Oloroso sherry cask and is limited to just 186 bottles.
The rum comes from Cask #3057, which was laid down in the Hacienda Santa Ana warehouse in 1994.
This release pays tribute to founder Don Pedro Fernández, who studied cognac-making in France before returning to Puerto Rico in 1871 and establishing the brand in 1880.
The Autobiografía series honors Fernández’s practice of identifying and setting aside exceptional barrels for extended maturation.
Master Blender Luis Planas commented on the rum’s development.
“This rum is a reflection of the decades-long marriage between spirit, air, and ex-sherry cask,” said Planas.
He continued: “It delivers a naturally balanced yet complex masterpiece — a glimpse into the beauty and uniqueness of true single-cask aging.”
The brand highlighted the rarity of a cask surviving for more than three decades with both its quality and volume intact, noting that many barrels of this age are either lost to evaporation or become too concentrated for a single-cask bottling.
Selection III marks the first time a rum from this series will be available in the U.S. market. The first two editions were sold exclusively at the Hacienda Santa Ana Visitor Center in Bayamón, Puerto Rico.
Ron del Barrilito emphasized its production process, which it states does not use a solera system or additives like sugar and caramel coloring.
The producer’s practices include low-proof barrel entry, meaning the rum is distilled to a proof just above its eventual bottling strength before aging. The brand also uses harvested rainwater, which ages alongside the rum, to minimize post-aging proofing.
The launch taps into the growing global demand for super-premium and aged rums, a category that has seen significant growth as consumers seek out rare and unique expressions with clear provenance.
Don Pedro Fernández Selection III has a suggested retail price of US$1,500.
It will be available nationally across the U.S. as well as through online retailers.
Ron del Barrilito plans for future releases in the Autobiografía series approximately every 12 months, with each edition drawn from a different, entirely unique cask.
