A 135-year old Dominican icon in rum craftsmanship, Brugal Rum launched its second iteration of the limited edition collection, Colección Visionaria Edición 02 Coffee, in the UK. Inspired by the Dominican ‘cafecito’ moment, Jassil Villanueva Quintana, Brugal’s Maestra Ronera or ‘Master Rum Maker,’ launched Colección Visionaria Edición 02 Coffee in London. The aim was to create a rum that embodies the cherished ‘cafecito’ moment – a ritual celebrated in the Dominican Republic where friends & family come together.
Made from the Dominican Republic’s (D.R) finest Arabica coffee beans, Brugal Rum use their innovative, world-first Aromatic Cask Toasting technique to craft Colección Visionaria Edición 02. The meticulous process involves gently heating the French Oak casks where the rum is aged alongside the beans, enhancing and drawing out rich, complex flavours. Beyond the toasting, what sets Dominican coffee beans apart is the rich, fertile soils and the cool, high-altitude climate in which they grow, deepening their flavour profile.
Supplied by Edrington UK, the country’s number one whiskey supplier, you may purchase this bespoke rum from Berry Bros & Rudd, Master of Malt and The Whisky Exchange—but hurry, there’s less than 35,000 bottles worldwide!
The Sensory Experience
The Colección Visionaria range is very much a blend of tradition and modernity, showcasing this advanced craftsmanship and innovation. Dark and golden amber, Colección Visionaria Edición 02 entices the senses from the moment it’s poured. As you hold it near, its rich aroma will sit close to your nose—exceptionally smooth, with deep notes of caramel and freshly brewed coffee, beautifully balanced by layers of dark chocolate and sweet vanilla.
As you take a sip, the palate opens with a subtle burst of spices—cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg—adding a nice, refined complexity. Delicate hints of dried fruit meld into a deep coffee flavour thanks to the Aromatic Cask Toasting, slowing time, much like the cafecito moment does.
The finish is medium in length, offering a balanced, smooth experience. A lingering smoke gently grows, leaving a lasting impression of complex flavours. To really savour the rum, you must sip on it slowly, either neat or over ice. The rum pairs well with food too especially red meats like venison as well as cheese and desserts.
Preparation Technique
Handcrafted with care from the very start, Brugal selects the coffee beans from the D.R—an island treasure that Dominicans cherish, keeping much of it to themselves and only exporting 20%.
Next comes choosing the right casks, given that 85% of Brugal’s flavour originates from ageing the rum in these vessels. In fact, they even have a special team of ageing specialists who meticulously hand-pick the right type of wood, age, and provenance to ensure the optimal result—inspecting every virgin European oak sherry cask.
And now, the star of the process—toasting the casks with the coffee beans, infusing the rum with rich flavours and aromas without direct contact. The liquid never touches the coffee beans, therefore infusing the wood with the rich aromatic coffee properties. Afterwards, the casks are strategically positioned under the warm Dominican sun, adding a unique charm to the liquid’s flavour, deepening the spirit and elevating the rum to a top-notch quality with a distinctive character.
Brugal Rum – not just a rum
During their 135 years of operation, Brugal grew to become a premium rum producer in the Dominican Republic and globally, offering a selection of top-shelf rums carrying the story of five generations of Maestros Roneros since Don Andrés Brugal first founded the company after travelling from Spain to Cuba and the D.R.
Other rums include the classic Brugal 1888—a deep amber spirit with notes of toffee, vanilla, peach, cloves, and cocoa on the palate, balanced by the sophisticated sweetness of dried fruits and a long, elegant finish with hints of honey. A predecessor to Colección Visionaria Edición 02, Edición 01 offers a similar profile but with deep chocolate and cocoa notes.
To discover more, visit brugal-rum.com
All imagery courtesy of Brugal Rum.