Mount Gilboa is a triple distilled Pot Still rum. This in itself is fairly unusual, I think. I’ve heard little about multiple distillation in rum, unlike Vodka for example. That’s not to say it doesn’t occur just that is rarely mentioned. Mount Gilboa is a product of Barbados and from the name and product design you could be mistaken into thinking you are getting a cheaper Mount Gay product or a copycat.
Tag Archives: Rum
From what I understand Appleton Special isn’t widely available in a lot of territories. It is freely available in the UK though.
Rather than being special as such, it is Appleton’s entry level rum. It comes in both a Gold and White expression. It should be noted that whilst this is an Appleton rum it doesn’t have the Appleton Estate moniker. Yes, its of course from the same distillery but it seems Appleton wish to make a distinction between this and the Estate’s entry level rum – V/X. It is notably absent from the Appleton Estate website and rumours have it that it may be being discontinued. If those rumours are true I may have to invest in a few more bottles soon!
For many years Rum has struggled with something of an image problem. Still seen by many as a cheap drink to be taken mixed and in excess by teenagers in search of a good time. Attempts to “Premiumise” rum have done little to convince those outside rum circles that Killdevil is a legitimate alternative to classic spirits such as Whisk(e)y and Gin. In many ways the “Premiumisation” of Rum has actually done it’s image more harm than good.
In 1857 a young wine and spirit merchant called Paul Bardinet began blending and ageing the “tafia” (as it was called at the time) or sugar-cane alcohol, which arrived in Limoges, France from the far flung islands of the Caribbean.
Legend goes that Bardinet worked on taming the firewater, which arrived on French shores with various blending and ageing techniques until he was producing something comparable to the Rhum Negrita which is now commonly available across mainland Europe. In particular France and Spain.
Most supermarkets in the UK have their own brand spirits. Marks and Spencer (or M&S for short), however do not do anything by halves.
So rather than trot out just a standard white and dark Caribbean rum, they have actually got some pretty interesting rums on their shelves.
The M&S Bajan Estate XO and Guatemalan Plantation rums have both been uncovered as being supplied by Cognac Ferrand’s rum blending wing Plantation Rum. The information on this bottle which states the rum is produced and bottled in France leads me to believe that this Gingerbread flavoured offering is also from Plantation Rum. NB – Since writing this review I have been informed by Nick Rodgers who works alongside Cognac Ferrand and Plantation Rum that is not a product produced by Plantation.
Foursquare Rum Distillery, St Philip, Barbados really should need no introduction. Originally set up by Reginald Leon Seale the great-great grandfather of the current Master Blender and Distiller Richard Seale, the distillery has become the byword for classic Caribbean rum.
Any new release from Foursquare is always welcome. The 2012 UK release of Rum Sixty Six was a welcome edition to the Foursquare portfolio, which also includes R L Seale’s 10 Year Old and the Doorly’s series of rums. US drinkers may also be familiar with The Real McCoy range of rums. In 2015 (and in particular August) we have been well and truly spoiled here in the UK. Not only has Richard released the long anticipated Doorly’s 12 but has also decided that 9 years (quite an unusual age for a rum) has been long enough for us to wait for this latest offering.
Cadenhead’s or Wm Cadenhead are an independent bottler of Scotch Whisky and other Fine Spirits based in Campbeltown, Argyle in Scotland. The company has been operating since 1842 and some of their more idiosyncratic blended whiskies and rums are currently available under the brands 1842 Live Cask range.