J Gow Pieces of Eight

J Gow Pieces of Eight. It seems Collin van Schayk and his team (well it is actually only really Collin) up in Orkney are really hitting their stride now. Not long ago, I was reviewing the Hidden Depths Vol 3. Which was a landmark release the first ever 8 year old rum to be distilled and aged entirely in the UK.

While that was a cracking Limited Single Cask bottling that set the bar high Pieces of Eight feels like the moment J Gow truly plants its flag on the global rum map. It carries that same 8 year age statement but brings it into the core range.

Offering a more permanent fixture for those looking for properly aged Orkney rum without the “blink and you’ll miss it” single cask FOMO. That being said you can still pick up a bottle of Hidden Depths Vol 3 direct from the J Gow website…….

I’ve been tracking J Gow since they first fired up the stills on the tiny island of Lamb Holm back in 2017. For those who don’t know the geography, Lamb Holm is a tiny speck of an island in the Orkney archipelago. Connected to the mainland by the Churchill Barriers. It’s a place more famous for the Italian Chapel and its Viking heritage than for sugarcane spirits.

Watching a distillery in the far North of Scotland tackle the world of authentic, molasses based rum has been a highlight of my time running this site. They don’t take shortcuts, they don’t add muck (no sugar, no caramel colouring, no flavouring shenanigans), and they certainly don’t shy away from experimentation.

The distillery itself is named after the infamous pirate John Gow, whose short-lived and brutal career ended in Orkney. The story goes that Gow returned to his childhood home under an alias but his cover was blown. Leading to a dramatic standoff at the Hall of Clestrain. He was eventually hanged at Execution Dock in London twice, actually, as the rope broke the first time. It’s a grisly bit of history but it provides a fittingly rugged backdrop for a rum produced in such a wild, wind-swept environment.

So, what exactly have we got with this Pieces of Eight? The name of course, refers to the Spanish Dollars that were chopped into eight pieces to provide change the literal treasure of the golden age of piracy. In this bottle the eight refers to the years spent in the wood. Unlike the single-cask nature of the Hidden Depths series Pieces of Eight is a double-cask aged pot still rum. It’s been matured for its full eight years in a combination of ex-bourbon and ex-Madeira casks.

This temperate aging is something I want to touch on. People often get all hot and bothered about Tropical vs. Continental aging. Orkney offers a third way a constant, cool and damp environment with very little temperature fluctuation throughout the year. This allows the rum to age gracefully over eight years without the oak becoming overly dominant or the “angel’s share” becoming ruinous. It’s a slow and steady approach that seems to suit the J Gow spirit profile down to the ground.

If you fancy a bottle, it’s currently listed on the J Gow website for £69.99. You can also find it through the usual suspects like Royal Mile Whiskies, Master of Malt and The Whisky Exchange. Now, seventy quid isn’t exactly pocket change and some might think it’s a bit daft to spend that on a UK rum when you can get a 12-year-old Foursquare for similar money. But you have to remember the scale here; this is small-batch, authentic pot still rum from a distillery that is literally building a category from scratch in the middle of the North Sea. For my money, it’s a fair price for the craftsmanship involved.

So, that’s the technical bits and the history out of the way. I’ve exhausted my notes and I’m starting to get thirsty… so let’s wet our whistles…

In the glass, J Gow Pieces of Eight is a rich, deep Mahogany. It’s entirely natural, of course no E150 here thank you very much.

On the nose, immediately you are hit with a wave of buttery toffee and salted caramel. It’s very inviting and lacks any of the harsh alcoholic prickle you might expect from younger, more aggressive pot still spirits. Once that initial sweetness settles, the Madeira influence starts to peek through think ripe Plums, dried Figs, and Raspberries. There’s a faint floral note. It smells “thick,” if that makes sense. Beneath it all is a solid backbone of toasted oak, vanilla and just a hint of charred oak.

On the sip, the entry is surprisingly soft, but don’t let that fool you it builds quickly. It’s less “funky” in the Jamaican sense than some of their younger marques, showing the refining influence of nearly a decade in oak. The first thing I notice is a deep, stewed fruit quality Red cherries, Raspberries and Raisins soaked in brandy. It’s slightly tannic, providing a pleasant dryness that balances the initial sweetness. There is a definite maritime tang here; it’s salty, like sea spray on a cold morning at the Churchill Barriers.

Into the mid-palate, the complexity really ramps up. The leather and old oak notes come forward, giving it a very “mature” and sophisticated feel. There’s a touch of black pepper and ginger spice that keeps things lively on the tongue.

It’s medium-to-full-bodied, with a creamy, almost waxy mouthfeel that reminds me of high-quality dark chocolate. You can taste the molasses heritage a deep, earthy bitterness that anchors the fruitier Madeira notes beautifully.

The finish is long and incredibly warming, which is exactly what you want from a spirit born in the Northern Isles. The spices linger Nutmeg, roasted Coffee Beans and a hint of damp Tobacco smoke. It’s a very satisfying conclusion that leaves a lingering sweetness on the lips and an immediate desire for another pour.

Overall, it is fascinating to see how Collin is managing his aging stocks as the distillery matures. While the Hidden Depths series showed us the raw power of single casks, Pieces of Eight shows us the art of the blend and the influence of clever finishing. It’s a more refined, more classic rum than some of their earlier, more aggressive releases.

It’s balanced, complex, and sits comfortably alongside the better 8 year old rums coming out of well anywhere really! It does maintain its own character that is uniquely and unapologetically Scottish. Och Aye the Noo.