Mount Gay has announced the release of two rums in its Single Estate Series, a collection meant to highlight single-batch rums exclusively made with molasses from sugarcane grown on the distillery’s estate in St Lucy, Barbados. The series launched in 2023.

Single Estate Series: 25_03_Vt24CF highlights a harvest from 2024, while 25_04_Vt19dp is crafted from a harvest from 2019. The former is the first unaged rum of the series that's also 100% Coffey still distilled, while 25_04 is matured for five years in American oak ex-Bourbon barrels that is 100% double pot distilled.

The 25_03 rum was distilled using one of only three operational Coffey stills left globally. This expression is transparent, bottled at $48\%\text{ ABV}$, and features a green label inspired by the color of the single-year sugarcane harvested in 2024.

Speaking at a launch event for the new expressions, Master blender Trudiann Branker explained that 25_03 is the first in the series where she was able to convert the sugarcane to molasses in-house before proceeding with fermentation.

The distillery says the rum's nose notes are said to be earthy with grapefruit, butterscotch and white rose. The palate is described as featuring brown sugarcane with sweet fruity notes of plum, grapefruit, green apple and pear.

25_04 was fully distilled in a copper pot and matured in American oak ex-Bourbon barrels. The rum has a light golden colour and is bottled at 55% ABV. Its orange label reflects Barbados’ golden hour and warm sunsets.

Its nose is said to offer green apple and red fruit, with a whisper of vanilla and gingerbread spice. On the palate, there is cherry and red fruit, a salty smokiness, sharp oak and delicate flower tones.

The fermentation process for both rums lasted on average nine days.

The bottle for 25_03 is made from $20\%$ to $30\%$ recycled glass, while the bottle for 25_04 uses a significantly higher $70\%$ recycled glass.

Branker said: "This year presents the fascinating opportunity to experience two different perspectives of Mount Gay’s heritage and terroir side by side. Their characteristics are reflected in their elegant labels. On the vibrant green label of 25_03_Vt24CF, 25 represents the release year, and 03 the release number in the series. Vt24 refers to the single-year sugarcane harvest from 2024 used in this expression, and CF stands for the fact that it was distilled in 100% copper Coffey still.

“On the lively orange label of 25_04_Vt19dp, 25 illustrates the release year, and 04 the release number in the series. Vt19 showcases the single-year sugarcane harvest from 2019 used in this expression, and dp indicates that I blended together distillates from two distinct pot still distillations.”

Both bottles feature a QR code on the label, which leads to a website detailing the production process.

Only 1,920 bottles of 25_03 are available at an MSRP of £80 (US$107). The 25_04 release is larger, with 2,754 bottles priced at an MSRP of £290 (US$387).

Kanpai!

88 Bamboo Editorial Team