Mount Gay Silver

Mount Gay is the heritage name of Barbados, marketing itself as the world's oldest commercial rum distillery with a deed dated 1703 and now owned by Remy Cointreau. This Silver expression is the unaged, clear member of the range, bottled at 40% and aimed squarely at cocktails rather than neat sipping.

Without barrel time the rum shows its raw distillate character: a fresh, citrus and sugarcane nose that quickly gives way to a notably alcoholic, solvent edge, the palate spirit forward and oily. The finish stays dry with grapefruit and a light banana note. Honest to say this is a mixing rum first, designed to carry through cola, ginger or a daiquiri rather than to reward close attention in the glass, where the young, spirity character shows most plainly.