Barbados, the most deeply British of the West Indian cultures, is often the first landfall for ships following the prevailing trade winds from Europe to the Caribbean. Mount Gay 1703 rum includes rums aged between 10 and 30 years that are joined by master distiller Allen Smith. For the oldest continuously running rum distillery in the world, it is a great pride to see her, the first female Master Blender, in this prestigious role. I also just found out that the brand has decided to reformulate their Black Barrel and XO, which makes it a good time to review these before the old releases become completely phased out.

Mount Gay Rum | Cocktails Mount Gay Rum | Cocktails

On the nose: Initially a bit peppery and hot, but I quickly forget about it as I get pronounced and lasting scents of oranges and marzipan. So, although the distillery relies on sugarcane sourced from around the Caribbean, it only imports varieties that are native to Barbados.This heritage is continually and patiently being passed on to our bartender and wine and spirits merchant advocates. He was also one of the most influential voices of his time to speak out against the institution of slavery. This expression from Mount Gay's Master Blender Collection brings together rum distilled in a column still aged entirely in tawny Port casks with rums from pot stills initially aged in American whiskey casks before being finished in tawny Port casks too! For a premium rum, I have found it difficult to appreciate this bottle for what it is, as it is overshadowed by what it needs to be.

Mount Gay 1703 Old Cask Selection | Spirits Review

The “Black Barrel” part of the name comes from its being finished in heavily charred ex-bourbon casks for one month. Mount Gay’s current master distiller, Trudiann Branker, is the first woman to run things in the distillery’s history. The ageing process is particularly unpredictable in the tropical Caribbean climate, and at Mount Gay, we prefer to talk about maturing. After resting in a combination of American whiskey, bourbon and Cognac casks, it's then blended and bottled at 43% ABV. Bottle/Packaging: Slightly different than the other Mount Gay bottles: it’s a bit wider and shorter.

The company produces a variety of rums, including Mount Gay Eclipse, Mount Gay Extra Old, Mount Gay XO, and Mount Gay Black Barrel. That name came from Sober’s friend, Sir John Gay Alleyne, who would eventually manage the rum business. It has been several months since I finished the bottle and I vaguely remember that it is a blend of about 55 different rums. As far as I am aware it is a blend of Pot and Column distillates from 55 different casks expertly blended by Alen Smith. Investment is concentrated on these top-of-the-range extensions; it is targeted to generate added momentum, and is leveraged via the use of social media.

Mount Gay Rum

It’s availablity in pretty much every Airport I have ever visited in Europe also ensures it is one of the Rum Worlds big hitters. It was the first legally recognised distillery but the noble spirit was produced much earlier than this date on Barbados. Next, I take in a hard-to-define yet pleasant mix of smells reminiscent of butterscotch, banana syrup, toffee, nutmeg, peach jam, cinnamon, honey, and vanilla, with cloves in the supporting role.Smooth, elegant and medium-bodied, these golden-style rums are crafted from both pot and column still distillation, combined with ageing in lightly charred ex-Bourbon barrels. In 2020, Mount Gay partnered with World Sailing to raise the profile and awareness of eSailing around the world.

Mount Gay – Rémy Cointreau Mount Gay – Rémy Cointreau

Foursquare only produces three marques, one pot and two column, and only ages blends of both, though at high ABV. John Sober inherited Mount Gilboa Plantation/Distillery from his father William Sandiford in 1747, and upon doing so he appointed Sir John Gay Alleyne as the manager. Under the new French ownership, Mount Gay enjoyed a wide distribution network and, consequently, became rapidly popular. The Black Barrel expression, a mix of pot and column distillates, spends time in repurposed bourbon barrels as well.

That means the island has lots of underground water, a key element in what makes Mount Gay unique and why the British decided to focus sugarcane and rum production here in the 17th century. Eclipse is the embodiment of the Mount Gay style, body and aroma by which our Master Blender Trudiann Branker uses to blend every variety of Mount Gay Rum. Resembles a decanter flask that is used for other premium spirits such as XO and above cognacs,single barrel bourbons, and other rare spirits. According to Hilary Beckles, historian and principal of the University of the West Indies – Cave Hill Campus, Sir John Gay Alleyne was a popular leader among the planter elite and a great philanthropist.