Mount Gay XO Extra Old

What a great Rum Mount Gay XO is. Bought a bottle without any previous experience with mount gay Rum. Sipped with a single cube to perfection.

I don't get easily surprised...but this one did it. If I can put my reaction into one word it would be, smooth.

Despite the "XO" rating there's not much oak to this one. It's there...but its not as strong as you'd expect.

This is a rum that deserves to be from Barbados! It's not cheap but you'll understand the price tag when you enjoy the quality and taste. This is a rum drinker's rum.

While in Barbados in 2011, my wife and I toured the Mount Gay distillery in Bridgetown and sampled some of their products including Mount Gay Eclipse and Mount Gay Extra Old, both of which we used as mix for rum punches. Upon our return home we purchased a bottle of each.

Fast forward to April 2017, the same two bottles are still in our liquor cabinet but are just about empty. Tonight I sipped on the remainder of both products to determine how the two fare as "sipper" Rum.

I must say that I was doubtful either of these two rums would qualify for decent sipping rums given the fact that 1) they were fairly inexpensive and 2) the bottles had been opened 6 years ago and both were less than 1/3 full.

I was pleasantly surprised with both samples of Mount Gay Eclipse and Mount Gay Extra Old. While the Mount Gay Eclipse rum is light and not as complex as the few aged rums I have sampled, it was nevertheless tasty. In my opinion Mount Gay Eclipse is a better mix than a sipping rum.

The second sample (Mount Gay Extra Old) was darker, tastier and more flavourful than the Eclipse and I really enjoyed its taste. Will without a doubt acquire a bottle of Mount Gay Extra Old in the near future. This rum makes an excellent mix but as a stand alone it is a respectable rum to drink neat.

UPDATE (July 2019)

Have now tried 116 different Rums I must say that besides St. Nicholas Abbey 12 Yr rum, Mount Gay XO is my favorite rum. The fact this Rum sells for $50 CAD in my area is enough for me to give it a “10” rating.

Simply a great rum from the oldest rum distillery in the world.

To make a long story short, this is a perfection. Extremely well balanced, not too dry, not too sweet. Toffi and caramel on one side and wood & leather on the other. A touch of overripe fruit (banana) which reminds you it is rum. At this price level there is no competition however it has something in common with Appleton Estate 12 Rare Blend. I love both. Must have.

Spitzen Rum zum absolut fairen Preis.
Feine natürliche Süße und etwas Fruchtigkeit. Toller Barbados Rum.

Medium color - VERY long on the palate - not too sweet, definite rum flavor unlike some rums that taste more like vanilla extract, perfume or molasses. This is the real deal in sipping rum.

molasses. dry.
i smell some dark fruits. pepper, ginger, barbados!
i taste fruit and tons of spice. pepper. ginger. some hints of vanilla and chocolate.
10/10 - drop 5 from this score if you love sweet rum.
full bodied powerhouse for a very really fair price. if one god exists and would ask me: take three rums with you to heaven, i think, one of them would be this!

This Rum is just as Rum should be. Not too sweet, lots of aromas, long lasting. For 30€ the best I got so far.

A last minute purchase with not much background on this rum. What an exciting and raw taste that took me by complete surprise. This has easily become one of my favourites.