So we are a serious no-nonsense review site. With that in mind, we will use the remainder of this tiny space before the fold to air some things about this rum that don’t really belong in the review proper. Now it’s understandable that we can see this came from a distinguished sir, who owned a piece of land like a mountain, but there is a proverbial elephant in the room – and it’s this. MOUNT YOUR GAYS LADS – WE RIDE AT WHEN THE MOON PASSED THE SUN! (moar like drink some of this and I’ll mount a gay eh?)
Editor’s Note: Sorry.
Kudos where it is due, this does make for an agreeable sipping rum, albeit a flawed one. Make no mistake nothing about this is bad, it is at it’s worst an average rum, but aside from a nice aftertaste, that is mostly where it stays. It may, however, be the first drink to the site from Barbados, or at least advertised to be so – so good showing there Barbados.
What they Say: “A legal deed dated 20th of February 1703 confirms the existence of a “Pot Still House” on our sugar cane Estate in Barbados, establishing us as the world’s oldest rum producer. Our name honours the pioneering Sir John Gay who perfected the distinctive Mount Gay style.
In 1910, the twin phenomena of a total solar eclipse and the passage of Halley’s Comet inspired the creation of Mount Gay Eclipse, a golden amber blend of aged rums. Eclipse’s perfectly balanced aromas and medium body epitomise Mount Gay’s signature style of crafting and blending pot still rums.”
Taste: 5.5 – It’s mostly sugary but in a sweet (not syrup) way. It’s fairly okay and mostly serves to lead into the aftertaste.
Aftertaste: 8.0 – The vanilla and caramel flavouring here reminds us of really only one other spirit which is loved at the site here – Private Stock Capt. Morgan. It also (with the burn) lingers on in a way. Well done.
Burn/Smooth: 6.0 – It’s almost like there’s a burn at the final part as you breathe out. It, for the most part, goes down smooth, but that final bit barbs you.
Aroma: 5.0 – It smells like a basic sort of rum. There’s no foul aspect, it’s not particularly strong, and there’s no distinctive smell. It’s okay.
Honesty: 5.0 – Okay so listen. Normally it would be correct to say that the namesake of this (an Eclipse in 1910) is a likely a bunch of hookum, but overall that actually gets a pass for being a fun story of how a spirit was named (not an inspiration). However, they had to also throw out there some deed about a pot still to claim the oldest rum rights. It’s a bit too showy, and they have that perfect word in there. All said and done, it’s a wash.
Mixability: 6.25
W/ Rocks: 6.0 – It mellows everything out, removes that barb, gets you into the aftertaste faster, but (and there is a big but) it’s just not the same goodness. Oh sure it’s a sippable rum, but no.
Rum and Coke: 6.5 – This is a nice, semi-sweet good rum and coke.
Value: 6.5 – There isn’t a day on this earth you should choose this over the aforementioned Private Stock unless you run a review site or some dumb nonsense. That being said this is a whole 6 dollars cheaper and compared to other rum it’s actually not bad.
Google Shop Average: $19
Website: http://www.mountgayrum.com/
Reviewer Scores:
BuffaloJern: 6.0
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Metric Score: 42.25/70 |+| Metric Average: 6.03 |+| Reviewer Average: 6.0
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Final Thoughts: Overall it’s not a bad rum, but its main characteristic is a smooth sweet rum, but there are better options if you are looking for something of that ilk. At this point, the only things about it that truly set this apart is how much you buy into the oldest rum distillery inspired to craft a drink from an eclipse and comet sighting – which we do not.
