Mount Gay unveils Coffey Still expression

The limited edition rum is the seventh release in the Master Blender Collection from Mount Gay and showcases a revived coffey still.

It is the first release from Mount Gay using its 100% copper coffey still since it was recommissioned in 2019 after lying dormant for several decades. The rum is released in tribute to late distiller Reynold ‘Blues’ Hinds, who passed away in 2021 and helped to bring the still back online.

“Creating this expression was a journey into the heart of Mount Gay’s history,” said master blender Trudiann Branker. “Blues’ influence on the rums we all enjoy today is immeasurable, and this release is a tribute to his legacy and the craftsmanship that defines Mount Gay.”

Mount Gay The Master Blender Collection: The Coffey Still Expression is made from 100% molasses from Barbados and aged for four years in heavily charred ex-Bourbon barrels. It is bottled at 58% ABV and priced at US$240.

Branker calls the distillery’s coffey still a “quiet giant” behind its more famous pot stills. While she wasn’t entirely sure what to expect from the still, one of three in operation globally, she notes a distillate that showed pronounced grapefruit character.

The final bottling displays pear, vanilla, and nutmeg on the nose with grapefruit, oak, and honey on the palate. Branker says that this comes from the initial still run in 2019 and that Mount Gay has been running the coffey still in limited capacity every year since, with plans to incorporate it into future releases.

The Coffey Still Expression joins other Master Blender releases like Andean Oak, Port Cask, and Pot Still Rum.