The Rum Mercenary Mount Gay Black Label Edition 2000

The Rum Mercenary selected this single cask of Mount Gay, the heritage Barbados distillery that markets itself as the world's oldest, distilled in 2000 and aged eighteen years. It comes from Mount Gay's pot and column distillate, matured in ex-bourbon oak and bottled unsweetened, a drier, more characterful take than the brand's standard range.

At 55.6% it is creamy and roasty rather than sweet, with floral notes, creme brulee, vanilla and tobacco on the nose, then clove, caramel, oak and wax on the palate, closing bitter, sweet and spicy with an espresso-like edge. Among a set of 2000 Mount Gay single casks tasters found this the liveliest, with the most pronounced floral and marzipan character. It stays complex if a little narrow in focus. A dry, honest Barbados single cask for those who enjoy bourbon-like, roasty profiles and want to explore Mount Gay at cask strength.