The Gen XY Lifestyle
Mount Gay Black Barrel Rum Now Available In Singapore
A common situation to most people is a palate that changes as we age, and for those looking to keep their taste buds entertained, there’s a new spirit available in Singapore that might just give the right challenge.
Mount Gay Rum started its journey in 1703 and carries the title of “World’s Oldest Rum Producer”. The distillery is named after the founder Sir John Gay. Mount Gay Rums are handcrafted using a blend of single and double copper pot distillates and later matured in toasted (some say charred) first-fill oak barrels. Their portfolio of rums includes the newly-launched Black Barrel, 1703 Old Cask Selection, Extra Old and Eclipse.
During the launch of the Mount Gay Black Barrel in Singapore, Brand Ambassador Miguel Smith explained about the entry into Asia and Singapore: “The appreciation and demand for rum is still fairly new as compared to other brown spirits here in Singapore. Smooth enough to sip yet very cocktail friendly…[my] hopes are that Black Barrel will both inspire and be a larger part of the ingenious and busy cocktail scene here in Singapore.”
Miguel shared some tips for the new-to-rum drinker to better enjoy the spirit. These include context that rum that is drank neat tends to have a longer finish; and those for cocktails have shorter finishes. Rums also show different notes when exposed to time and air, so it might be good to save some of the drink when tasting a new rum, to finish later.
Tasting notes for their range of rums as follows:
Black Barrel:
A blend of single and double distillate; aged independently and in charred bourbon casks for 6 – 18 months
Colour: Nice, golden medium
Nose: Sweet, strong notes of vanilla, chocolate, banana
Taste: Flavourful, vanilla, fresh bananas
Finish: Warm, medium finish
Extra Old:
Voted “Best Rum in the World” by the Monde Selection
Colour: Dark golden
Nose: Peat, banana, vanilla, coffee
Taste: Sulphur, oily, full-in-the-mouth, strong bananas, sweet
Finish: Long, lingering finish
1703:
Blend of double distillate for between 10 – 30 years.
Colour: Dark golden
Nose: Robust, oak, vanilla
Taste: Wood, oily, banana, caramel, sweet
Finish: Long finish
For those looking to get a taste of the Mount Gay Black Barrel in Singapore – either neat or cocktail (or both!) – head over to some of these selected bars (websites are shared in bold) across Singapore including:
Bitters and Love at North Canal Road
GEM Bar at Ann Siang Hill
Jekyll and Hyde at Tras Steet
Jigger and Pony at Telok Ayer
The Mad Men Attic Bar at North Canal Road
Nektar at Scotts Road
Cuba Libre at Clarke Quay
Potato Head at Keong Siak
Sugar Hall at Amoy Street
The Scarlet Hotel at Ann Siang Hill
Waku Ghin at Marina Bay Sands
