Overview
Brand: Mount Gay
Origin: Mount Gay, St. Lucy, Barbados
Still: Pot & Column Blend
Age: NAS
Finish: ex-Bourbon
ABV: 57.1%
This release from the oldest continuously-operating rum distillery originally caught my eye when I saw the announcement Instagram post. An expression of Mount Gay Eclipse at a higher proof and low price point? Sign me up.
Mount Gay Eclipse Navy Strength is a limited edition crafted by master blender Trudiann Branker, the brilliant mind behind the Black Barrel Cask Strength and Single Estate releases. It was created to celebrate the connection between Mount Gay and sailing.
This is a molasses-based blend of rums produced by Mount Gay's double retort pot stills and traditional Coffey column still at their facility in St. Lucy, Barbados. While there is no age statement on the bottle, Navy Strength is aged 2-4 years, and contains a slightly higher ratio of older pot still distillate than the standard expression.
After maturing in charred ex-Bourbon casks, Eclipse Navy Strength is bottled at 57.1% ABV.
The label "navy strength" and the proof point may invite some scrutiny as far as proper labeling of navy strength per historical sources; honestly, I don't care too much to get into the nitty-gritty, and will leave the discourse to those steeped in history and chemistry. In defense of the classification, I'll leave you with the curious justification from Trudiann on the Mount Gay website:
The historic Navy Strength used in the US was 57.1% abv, and that is the reference Trudiann chose for her Eclipse Navy Strength blend.
Appearance
Honey gold, medium-low viscosity
Nose
Butterscotch, pinecones, vanilla, salted almonds, classic bubblegum, ethanol
Palate
Vanilla, butterscotch, almond butter, honey syrup, dark chocolate, black pepper
Finish
Long, hot; vanilla, oak, ethanol, cinnamon, black pepper
Rating: 7/10
Summary
Despite feeling a bit ambivalent towards the original expression, Mount Gay Eclipse Navy Strength is a solid rum. Unsurprisingly, the proof– being the only/major difference– helps provide complexity and richness that the original lacks.
The opening notes have a nuttiness/earthiness about them, with butterscotch, pinecones, and almonds showing up in the nose and palate. I get a distinct classic bubblegum aroma on the nose– something I've found in other young-ish Bajan rums. The palate leads with vanilla, develops with smooth almond butter, and closes out with bitter dark chocolate and a black pepper note, which carries into the finish.
It's a cool product to introduce to the Mount Gay lineup, and it would be cool to see other "what if?"-style releases, both for this brand and others.
Recommended Cocktails
- Old Fashioned (traditional recipe)