There is a lot of exceptional rum out there to choose from, and Mount Gay has been responsible for a fair share of it. The Barbados distillery proved that it can also be “exceptionally aged” with the introduction of its first ever age-statement expressions, a pair of rums matured for 15 and 25 years in the tropical climate on this Caribbean island. We got to sample both, and they are superb.
The 15 and 25-year-old rums are part of the new Exceptionally Aged series. To be clear, that’s a long time for a rum to age in a tropical climate, as the interaction between wood and spirit is intensified by the heat and humidity (the angel’s share ranges between 6 and 15 percent annually, according to a rep for the brand). As mentioned before, this is a first for this over 300-year-old distillery located in St. Lucy, Barbados, and a significant addition to the portfolio.
“The Exceptionally Aged Collection is a profound tribute to the 320 years of heritage and to the generations of blenders before me who possessed the vision to lay down these incredible rums,” said master blender Trudiann Branker in a statement. “With both the 15 and 25-year-old, we chose to honor that original vision by ageing them exclusively in ex-bourbon casks, resulting in a desired intensity and complexity that beautifully matches the heritage we are so proud to carry.”
