Mount Gay Is Out with Two Ultra Aged Rums That Whisky Drinkers Will Love

Located in the palm tree-flecked paradise of Saint Lucy parish on the north coast of Barbados, Mount Gay is no stranger to crafting aged rum. The distillery’s core range comprises three aged expressions, including the whiskey barrel-matured Eclipse, the heavy char bourbon barrel-finished Black Barrel, and the triple-barreled XO (aged for 5–17 years in a mix of whiskey, bourbon, and cognac casks). The annual Master Blender Collection also has several barrel-focused expressions, with last year’s batch spending 4 years in Rémy Martin cognac casks and previous batches using madeira, PX, and Andean oak, among others.

Aging might play a big role at Mount Gay, but it’s sometimes overlooked. That’s because, for the entirety of the distillery’s 323 years of operation, Mount Gay has never given its rum proper age statements. Some limited expressions from the terroir-focused Single Estate Series have included vintages—these reference a particular year’s cane harvest rather than tell you exactly how old the liquid is—but age statements haven’t been in the cards. Now the distillery is changing that with the Exceptionally Aged Collection, which has launched with two new ultra-aged rums.

Generations in the Making

The newcomers were aged for 15 and 25 years; just like with whisky, the age statements refer to the youngest liquid in each blend. Both expressions are column distilled, which produces a lighter-bodied spirit compared to its heavier, generally more aromatic pot still counterparts, and were aged in bourbon barrels. Though the label doesn’t specify it, the 25 year old is a single-vintage blend of rums distilled in 1999. The 15 year old was bottled at 43% ABV, and its older counterpart was bottled slightly higher at 47%.

As is the case with some aged spirits this old, these rums passed through the hands of three generations of master blenders. Both rums were initially laid down by longtime blender Jerry Edwards, who helmed the distillery’s production for over 25 years and is best known for developing the original Mount Gay XO recipe in 1991. A large chunk of the maturation was overseen by Allen Smith, who took over as master blender in 2010 after Edwards retired. Finally, the stocks were blended together in 2025 by current master blender Trudiann Branker, who has held the post since 2019 and has spearheaded many of the distillery’s recent innovations including the Master Blender Collection and Single Estate Series.

According to the brand, the decision to exclusively use column still rum was partly rooted in a desire to increase the volume for both releases. Mount Gay also produces pot still rum, though it’s a relatively smaller portion of the inventory and most of it is set aside for blending with column still rum and other projects. The distillery also grapples with incredibly high angels’ share—losing anywhere from 6%–15% volume annually to evaporation depending on weather conditions—which limits options for blending ultra-aged releases like this.

Mount Gay released over 7,000 bottles of both expressions globally. The 15 year old, which has a suggested retail price of $90, accounts for 4,942 bottles. The 25 year old accounts for 2,376 bottles and goes for $199.

How Do Mount Gay’s First Age Stated Rums Taste?

Mount Gay 15 year old Barbados Rum

ABV: 43%
SRP: $90
Availability: Nationwide

The nose has a surprising vibrancy to it considering the age—probably thanks to the column still distillation—offering kiwi, cherry tart, banana, toasted almonds, white grapes, cedar, and maple. The palate brings semi-bitter dark chocolate into the mix, along with cherry cola, rancio, vanilla, and spice. The finish has chocolate-covered raisins, more vanilla, and oak.

Mount Gay 25 year old Barbados Rum

ABV: 47%
SRP: $199
Availability: Nationwide

It unsurprisingly has far more aged character than the 15 year old, with aromas of black cherry, antique oak, cigar box, marzipan, baking chocolate, toasted coconut, and brown sugar emanating from the glass. The palate brings spiced fruit, browned apples, fudge, maple candies, overripe tropical fruits, and a pleasant wave of wood spice. That spice keeps rolling on the finish, adding warm cinnamon, gingerbread, and allspice, all melding together with softer notes of vanilla pudding, cacao, and earth. It has ample depth and complexity throughout, and a profile that bourbon lovers will surely enjoy.