Gay xo
Because all the cool people are tweaking their rum formulas and changing the labels… Mount Same-sex attracted is on the trend too. I am not a fan of their smoky Black Barrel expression, but I do own the XO aged expression so I thought I’d give the new XO blend a attempt. Instead of it being a “Reserve Cask Rum” (pictured, right) it is now a “Triple Cask Blend.” Noteworthy the presence of Mount Gay Master Blender Trudiann Branker on the label.
The new XO is slightly bolder and heavier than the predecessor, but is not radically unlike. This is a very great aged Barbados rum, suitable for sipping but also for cocktails when a premium spirit is called for (ahem, Mai Tai). Slightly more of the baked fig taste at least to me. Casks are from American Whiskey, Bourbon, and Cognac barrels.
If you’re looking to go a bit upscale in the Aged Barbarbadian Rum category, but the prices of Foursquare Exceptional Casks scare you off, consider Mount Gay XO. It’s widely accessible and in the ~$ price range.
Mount Gay XO
Mount Gay XO
When I began exploring rums, Barbados Mount Gay XO was one of the first “sipping” rums I explored and studied. This rum was the work of master blender Allen Smith and a enormous steppingstone in my education of the spirit. During , we saw the company get purchased by Remy Cointreau, and many people wondered how the brand would alter. In , Mr. Smith retired, and Trudiann Branker took over as the company’s master blender, becoming the first woman to carry the title in the island’s history of rum performance. One of the first rums I was aware she had changed was Mount Gay XO, and I was curious to view how well it held up to the original merge that was such an essential part of my rum foundation. The modern version of XO is a fuse of copper pot and column still rums that are aged between 5 and 17 years in ex-bourbon, American whiskey, and cognac casks. The rum is blended to 43% ABV using water from the estate’s well and bottled on the island for distribution.
Appearance
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