Mount Gay releases navy-strength version of Eclipse

The limited edition rum from Mount Gay has been aged longer and bottled at a higher proof than the standard expression.

Mount Gay has announced a navy-strength edition of its Eclipse rum. Aged between two and four years, it features a higher portion of older, pot-still distillate.

The limited edition rum was crafted by master blender Trudiann Branker and pays homage to the brand’s deep-rooted connection with the maritime world.

“When creating this new expression, I took inspiration from Mount Gay’s long history with sailing. Given that Eclipse has been loved by sailors around the world since its launch in 1910, it made sense to experiment with the loved blend at navy strength,” said Branker.

Eclipse Navy Strength is bottled at 57.1% ABV and priced at US$30. With no colour or sugar added, it has notes of vanilla, cardamom and leather on the nose and roasted pineapple, mocha, sea salt and passionfruit on the palate.

“When I first tried it, I was blown away by the vibrancy of the flavour of the rum,” Branker said. “Crafting it at navy strength was a thrilling experiment that paid off, unveiling a rum that’s not only rich in flavour but also in history and tradition.”

The tradition of navy-strength rum dates back to when sailors relied on the potency of the flammable spirit to ignite wet gunpowder. While Mount Gay Eclipse Navy Strength has a significantly higher proof than the standard Eclipse, which is bottled at 40% ABV, the brand says the balanced and elegant profile makes it versatile in cocktails like a Paloma and Punch.

The release of Eclipse Navy Strength comes a few months after Mount Gay announced a single estate series made from sugarcane harvested at the distillery’s estate in 2016 and 2017.

In March, the Rum & Cachaça Masters 2024 results were revealed, highlighting the best in the category from agricole to spiced.