Mount Gay Barbados Rum Aged 25 Years

Introduction

Mount Gay Barbados Rum Aged 25 Years. This is the second in the Exceptionally Aged (I wonder where they got the idea for the name from) series from Mount Gay, who if you haven’t already heard are the oldest rum distillery in the world…….legally anyway.

The rums contained in this blend were distilled way back in 1999. Indeed the rums have passed through 3 Master Blenders during their time ageing in Barbados.

Like the 15 Years rum I reviewed earlier, this is a Column still only blend of rums. This iteration of the Exceptionally Aged series has been ramped up to 47% ABV rather than the 43% offered for the 15 Years. Which might have seemed a little edgy 10-15 years ago. Coming out of the standard “Whisky” ABV of 40-46% but in comparison to Cask Strength Independent bottlings and even those from its island competitor Foursquare, it todays market seems a little timid.

There isn’t any fancy finish either its been aged entirely in ex-bourbon barrels.

Especially when we come to the price £186 or thereabouts for a 70cl in the UK. Now this has been aged exclusively in Barbados, so the Angels Share for this is going to have been huge. No question about that. Resulting in just 2,376 for this particular release – Worldwide.

It is noted on the Mount Gay website that the “aging process concluded in 2024, and the rum was carefully prepared for its January 2026 bottling. It stands as a profound testament to the distillery’s generational craft and commitment to patience”

Quite what happened between 2024 and 2026, I have no idea……..

Huge thanks to reader Darren Morgan who very kindly provided the sample. Hugely appreciated.

Anyway lets get on to the fun part.

Tasting

In the glass Mount Gay Barbados Rum Aged 25 Years is a shade or two darker than its 15 Years counterpart. So we have a nice mahogany coloured spirit in the glass.

The nose is very oak forward. Not unexpected bearing in mind how long it has spent in the barrel. There’s a sweetness there, some toffee/caramel and a bit of banana. Faint traces of Pear and more astringent almost varnish like aroma.

Further nosing reveals some Strawberry and Coconut alongside some bitter tobacco like notes.

For a column still rum its quite “heavy” reminiscent of English Harbour from Antigua more so than your typical Bajan profile.

Sipped at full strength its initially pretty bitter. Oak dominates. It’s quite medicinal and heavy. Vanilla floats in and out but its faint and not really lifting it.

Further sips reveal a little more of what was on the nose. It’s not the fruitier notes though. I’m getting more of the tobacco notes and some bitter almost menthol like notes. It reminds me a little of chewing gum that has went stale. It’s just very bitter.

I’m guessing that the choice to use Column Still rum for both of these releases was to try and maintain some of the lighter, fruitier notes.

I get the feeling that ageing this for 25 Years was more of a statement, than a true decision to bottle these particular blends at this age.

On the mid palate I’m not getting much development – even at 47% ABV it still feels a little underpowered and a little watery. Its just getting more woody.

The finish is a decent length but its not giving me anything that is really jumping out at me. Its just more of the same woody profile with some tobacco and a faint waft of vanilla.

Verdict

Much like Mount Gay’s 1703 Master Selection Mount Gay Barbados Rum Aged 25 Years, is just all bit underwhelming. I want to be able to say good things about Mount Gay but I haven’t been particularly impressed with anything they have put out since the original Black Barrel rum!

With this one they are trying to charge a Premium price based on the age statement. Following the Scotch Whisky model. Unfortunately, a lot of people (myself included) will find this to be over oaked.

It’s not a terrible rum by any means – if you are in the mood for something like this then its fine. The problem is thats all it is – fine. You can buy a bottle of almost everything from Foursquare for at around half the price and be much more impressed.

That is the problem for Mount Gay. They can’t rely on the name and history anymore when their noisey neighbours have been out doing them for the past 10-15 years.

They need a massive re-think on price and what the consumer actually wants.

This would have been a real talking point 15 years ago – 25 years in ex-bourbon. Today at nearly £200 it just isn’t going to excite the market.

Final Thoughts : A rum stuck in the past