Mount Gay Rum marks Barbadian independence

Rémy Cointreau has unveiled a limited edition bottling of Mount Gay rum to celebrate Barbados’s 50th anniversary of independence.

Mount Gay XO Cask Strength is a blend of spirits matured for eight to 15 years

Bottled at 63% abv, XO Cask Strength has been created to “symbolise the rich culture and strong personality of both Mount Gay and its nation”.

Featuring a blend of spirits matured for eight to 15 years, the new offering is described as having “notes of ripe banana and toasted almond, followed by vanilla and spice, to create a smooth, unforgettable finish”.

“This is our tribute to the spirit of Barbados, the original birthplace of rum, and the people that make this island so unique,” said Allen Smith, master blender.

“To taste XO Cask Strength is to experience everything that fans love about XO, but it gives connoisseurs the special opportunity to enjoy the truest intensity of XO aromas straight from the casks.”

With just 3,000 bottles available, each will come packaged in a wooden box with a booklet on the history of rum’s origin in Barbados.

A portion of the sales of every bottle sold will be donated to the Barbados Museum and Historical Society to support its efforts in conserving the history and culture of Barbados.

XO Cask Strength is available at an RRP of US$185 from specialist liquor and spirits stores in the US, UK, Barbados, Belgium, France and Australia in November 2016.