Notes: Named after the year the distillery was founded (1703). This is Mount Gays premium rum. A blend of minimum 10 year old to 30 year old rums blended to show off their best product. Fermented in oak vats (many distilleries now use stainless steel) using using water filtered through the islands coral geology (limestone aquifer) from of an almost 250 ft deep well.

Some of the blend is double distilled in copper pot stills and other parts distilled in a copper Coffey column still (a Coffey still is usually used for Irish whiskey) – then aged in ex bourbon oak casks for various periods of time then blended to profile. This is the oldest (but newest edition to their line) of the Mt Gay line the youngest being Mount Gay Eclipse Silver, an older sibling of the Mount Gay Eclipse, and the former oldest Mount Gay Extra Old.

Appearance: Lovely red / gold, or patinated bronze. Sparkling clear with no hazing separation or floating sediments. Crenellated edges develop on swirling with long legs developing very slowly.

First Impression: Slightly sweetish, ripe annanas with caramelized molasses, cinnamon, nutmeg, mace, allspice, spice and flowers, buttery nuts (macadamia, hazelnuts etc.), leather, tobacco.

Taste: Spicy, paradoxically sweetish and drying entry, some citrus, dried fruits and flower notes, persimmons, cinnamon, sandalwood notes, medium-to-heavy bodied. Lovely oak pepper and vanilla notes intermixed ginger, leather and tobacco. Nice drying finish to it. Finish is long with a spicy dry tingling to the lips.

Drinks: Please don’t . Best enjoyed on it’s own. A drier alternative to many other anejo rums out there (particularly the Venezuelan or Guatemalan).

Cigars: A better cigar is called for here- like a Opus X or God of Fire, Cameroon wrapper.

Bottle/Packaging: Slightly different than the other Mount Gay bottles: it’s a bit wider and shorter.The heavy clear glass shows off the color of the rum nicely. The bottle is flask shaped with rounded shoulders and straight neck.

Resembles a decanter flask that is used for other premium spirits such as XO and above cognacs,single barrel bourbons, and other rare spirits. Heavy glass bottom gives it a nice appearance and balance. Front of bottle has embossed “SINCE 1703,” coat-of-arms, and “Perfected by Tradition.” Inset paper label with drawing of Barbados and multicolored lettering also add to the antique feel. Gold neck foil with red lettering, gold cord with seal and a real cork closure complete the package and gives it a nicer more premium feel.

Final Thoughts: Proof that rum can hold its own against other spirits as a respectable high end spirit. Lovely, complex but subtle, nuanced and a wonderful rum to sip and contemplate.

Web site:http://www.mtgayrum.com

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