Oldest Mauritian distillery releases Penny Blue Rum

UK-based wine and spirit merchant Berry Bros. & Rudd is launching a new XO rum inspired by the Penny Blue stamp, produced at the oldest distillery on Mauritius.

Penny Blue XO Mauritian Rum is a small batch, single estate rum distilled as Medine near Bambou, and matured in American oak and French oak Cognac casks.

Comprised of 14 individual casks, Penny Blue is non-chill-filtered and has been bottled at 44.1% abv on the estate for Berry Bros. & Rudd.

Penny Blue is described as having tropical fruit, citrus and espresso coffee notes on the nose, with nutty aromas and vanilla on the palate.

Luke Tegner, brands marketing director of Berry Bros. & Rudd Spirits, said: “Penny Blue is a logical addition to our range of top quality premium spirits.”

The first batch of Penny Blue, of which there are 5,946 bottles, will be distributed in the US and Europe at an RRP of £40 (US$80).

The expression is inspired by the famous Penny Blue stamp, printed in Mauritius in 1847, which immediately became a collectors’ item after the engraver accidentally inscribed the words “Post Office” rather than “Post Paid” on it. Of the 1,000 stamps printed at the time, just 12 are believed to still exits today.