Mt gay

The brand’s flagship product, Mount Gay Eclipse, was introduced in 1910 and became one of the most popular rums in the world. The Black Barrel expression, a mix of pot and column distillates, spends time in repurposed bourbon barrels as well. The distillery uses a combination of traditional double column, Spanish and Scottish double retort copper pot, and recently re-commissioned Irish Coffey stills.

Named after the total solar eclipse that occurred that year, Eclipse is a blended rum known for its smoothness and versatility.

Its rums are enjoyed by connoisseurs and casual drinkers alike, and the brand continues to set the standard for quality and innovation in the rum industry. The first special expression she’s been working on will debut in fall 2019.

There are four main expressions.

Clean and clear Mount Gay Silver is the brand’s entry-level rum, but grab it while you can, because it’s being removed from the American market.

The traditional column still produces fruity, grassy, and butterscotch notes, while the Irish Coffey Still produces herbaceous, grassy, and floral notes. You can’t buy one — at least not directly from Mount Gay. The only way to get one is to race in one of the scores of regattas that the brand sponsors every year.

The new distiller is a glass-ceiling-breaking powerhouse.

Mount Gay’s current master distiller, Trudiann Branker, is the first woman to run things in the distillery’s history.

These techniques gave the rum its distinctive character, with rich, complex flavors that set it apart from other spirits of the time. It remains a cornerstone of the Mount Gay portfolio.

In addition to Eclipse, Mount Gay expanded its offerings to include other expressions, such as Mount Gay XO (Extra Old), a premium aged rum launched in the early 2000s.

Its legacy is deeply intertwined with the history of rum itself, and the brand has become synonymous with quality, tradition, and craftsmanship.

Mount Gay Rum: Origins and Early History

The story of Mount Gay begins with the arrival of sugarcane in Barbados in the 17th century. The Mount Gay distillery has a 300-foot deep water well hand dug into a natural cavity in the sloping ground.

Though the distillery’s first Coffey still only dates to the 1970s, other column designs were added to the mix around the time of American Prohibition. The brand is rigorous on the quality control for their molasses. A native Bajan, she studied Chemistry at Howard University in Washington, D.C., and also has an MBA. Following a five-year apprenticeship under Mount Gay’s previous master distiller, she took on her current role.

The distillery and plantation grounds are home to a centuries-old, 300-plus-foot well. The local molasses, sourced from Barbados, has a higher sugar content due to the alkaline in the soil, which adds acidity and flavor to the sugarcane, leading to a higher yield in production. Mount Gay’s commitment to environmental and social responsibility reflects its dedication to preserving the island’s natural resources and cultural heritage.

Mount Gay’s influence extends beyond rum production.

Molasses is very different than the sugar that you might use to sweeten your coffee or tea. Following his death in 1801, the company was renamed after him. The Mount Gay Visitor Centre, located at the distillery, offers tours and tastings, allowing visitors to experience the brand’s history and craftsmanship firsthand.

Mount Gay Rum: Legacy and Impact

Today, Mount Gay is recognized as one of the world’s finest rum producers, with a legacy that spans over 300 years.

The distillery uses two types of fermentation: controlled and open-air using wild indigenous yeast, which adds another layer of flavor.

There are four different types of stills used to make Mount Gay rum, depending on the final flavor profile they wish to achieve. The brand has embraced sustainability initiatives, such as reducing water usage, recycling waste, and supporting local communities in Barbados.

The taller, narrower neck Fragasa pot stills will create lighter, fruitier rums. No matter what still is being used, all distillates are co-fermented (more on that right below).

There’s something familiar in the air.

Mount Gay co-ferments local and imported molasses. 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.