Mount Gay has introduced their latest rum in celebration of their 310 year anniversary. It appears that Mount Gay has pulled their existing Black 100 proof run in order to replace it with Black Barrel. A blended rum finished in black charred bourbon oak barrels, Black Barrel will launch in April with an MSRP of $29.99/750ml.
Black Barrel follows the new bottle design Mount Gay has introduced for their Silver and Eclipse lines. The new style includes a flat bottle, modernized font with an emphasis on it’s 300+ year tradition.
From MountGayRum.com:
SMALL BATCH HANDCRAFTED RUM
The latest from Master Blender Allen Smith, Black Barrel is a small batch, handcrafted blend made of matured double pot distillates and aged column distillates. In a process called finishing, the blended rum is then matured for a second time in deeply charred Bourbon oak barrels. This unique process releases spicy aromas that are at once balanced, and bold.
Aromas: Complex notes of spice, roasted wood, followed by fruit.
Taste: Bold spice balanced with oaky vanilla and sweet caramel.
Body: Warm medium body with long finish.
It is true that Eclipse Black has been d/c’d and that now we have a much more expensive “Black Barrel”. The Rum Project reviewed both and are rather disappointed. The Eclipse was 100 proof, stated age (2-7 years), more pot still flavors, and you got a full liter for perhaps $20. Now the price is just short of $30 for less rum, lower proof, less flavor and a smaller bottle.
The “Black Barrel” seems to be a younger, lesser rum. The “finishing” in deeply charred barrels is necessary to make it palatable. A real disappointment.