The annual Mount Gay Single Estate Series has reached its third year. Each is a step towards redefining Barbadian rum, tracing every drop from cane to cask. For 2025, we’re treated to a dual rum release.
The two editions are Mount Gay Single Estate Edition Three (25_03_Vt24CF) and Mount Gay Single Estate Edition Four (25_04_Vt19dp). One is an unaged rum from a Coffey still, the other a five-year-old pot still rum.
Two distinct yet complementary expressions.
Say hello to Mount Gay master blender Trudiann Branker and farm supervisor Kevin Cozier
Mount Gay has been growing its own sugar cane
In 2015, Mount Gay acquired 324 acres of historical Mount Gay and Oxford Estate land and planted sugar cane fields, installing a molasses factory too. Since then, the team harvests Estate sugar cane each year, transforms it into molasses, before fermenting, distilling and ageing the spirit at the distillery. It can produce a cane-to-bottle rum on site for the first time in centuries.
The Single Estate Series invites us to delve into the journey of master blender Trudiann Branker and the team as they experiment with homegrown sugar cane, learn the intricacies of making molasses in-house, and showcase the terroir of the Mount Gay Estate in St. Lucy, Barbados. I met with Branker while she was visiting London to hear all about these two new releases (and to taste them, of course).
“These two new additions to our Single Estate Series are a masterclass in contrast and complementarity”, says Branker.
She decided to capture the 2024 sugar cane harvest with the third in the series (named 25_03_Vt24CF), while the fourth (25_04_Vt19dp) shines a light on the 2019 harvest. The third is the first unaged rum in the series, and Coffey Still distilled, while the fourth is matured for five years and double pot distilled. See, contrasts everywhere!
The new additions to the Mount Gay Single Estate Series
The Mount Gay Single Estate Series
On first glance, those names looked like the sort of file names my camera comes up with, but once you start to speak the language, it all makes sense – and shows us the level of insight and detail that the team are so keen to share. Let’s break down 25_03_Vt24CF; “25” represents the release year, and “03” the release number in the series. “Vt24” refers to the single-year sugar cane harvest from 2024, and “CF” stands for the fact that it was distilled in 100% copper Coffey Still. 25_04_Vt19dp = “25” for the release year, “04” for the number in the series, “Vt19” for the year of harvest, and “dp” indicating that Branker blended together distillates from two distinct pot still distillations. Transparency is what this project is all about, so we can join the journey and understand exactly what we’re tasting as the series develops.
“I would like for rum to be an open book. You know, we’re very proud of how we make it, and it’s not a secret”, says Branker.
Still don’t believe her? Scan the QR code on the back of your bottle, and you’ll be taken to a web page created specifically for that release and its cane harvest. It’s packed with every stat you can think of, and all sorts of interesting info to delve into. “Everything is on there, like every memory I have, everything I’ve ever said, the memories of everyone who worked on every specific harvest.”, laughs Branker. “You have quotes from our agricultural coordinator, from our estate manager – the entire team is there. We want to bring you along on a journey, as it starts to get older, as it gets more known, all of these things. The record is there, down to which cultivars went into each harvest.”
Sugar cane from Mount Gay’s own fields
A closer look at the rums
Edition 3 (25_03_Vt24CF)
For this unaged edition, Branker decided to capture the 2024 sugar cane harvest, grown entirely on the Mount Gay Estate in St. Lucy, Barbados. The cane was processed and converted into molasses in-house, then fermented for an average of nine days. Distillation took place in Mount Gay’s rare 100% copper Coffey still. It’s one of only two remaining functioning Coffey Stills in the world, and it lay in pieces spread around the estate for decades before the team lovingly resurrected it and learned how to work it. Adam got to see that still in real life as part of an in-depth exploration of the distillery back in 2022, so you can read all about his adventures and more about the workings of Mount Gay right here!
Tasting notes
Nose: Balanced fruity esters, with ripe banana, butterscotch, floral vanilla, and citrus blossom. Slick molasses joins more florals, with chamomile and sweet cream in tow.
Palate: Toffee and caramel join herbaceous hints of freshly pressed cane juice, fluffy brioche, and creamy, fruity notes of mango sticky rice.
Finish: Gentle and mellow, with lingering creamy sweetness, hints of rice pudding, and butterscotch Angel Delight.
Edition 4 (25_04_Vt19dp)
This edition shines a light on the 2019 sugar cane harvest, grown entirely on the Mount Gay Estate in St. Lucy, Barbados. Processed into molasses in-house, fermented for an average of nine days, and double pot distilled. The rum then spent five years maturing in American oak bourbon barrels. It’s layered with toffee and red fruit sweetness, floral elegance, and balanced bitter molasses.
Tasting notes
Nose: Rich and unctuous with notes of dark, treacly toffee, earthy vanilla, and macerated fruits.
Palate: Pot still dryness, rich molasses, earthy oak, and drying leather. Rounded and balanced, with charred brown sugar, banana bread, and a touch of warm rubber.
Finish: Still drying, with brown sugar, grilled pineapple, and tannic oak.
What do you think of the single estate series?
The future is bright for the Mount Gay Single Estate Series
It really feels like this collection is starting to take shape. The future is being defined, and its foundations are firm. The team are learning more year on year, and they’re excited to share every detail about the project. From different cane varietals to favoured soils to grow them in. Most importantly, away from the monkeys, who have a nasty habit of breaking up the cane.
They’re learning all about molasses. How to transport it safely to trade shows through airport security. Crucially, without it exploding over an entire suitcase of shirts, pressed especially for the aforementioned trade shows. Then the endless ways that harvests and results can vary each year. Their pride is tangible. Each annual expression offers a real-time insight into the day-to-day work exploring the terroir of the Mount Gay Estate.
And importantly, the rums are shaping up to paint an equally impressive picture of what Mount Gay rum is about. These are still the early days of an exciting collection that will grow and grow. We can expect to see all kinds of creativity as it does. Expect older vintages and all sorts of cask maturations in the future.
You can buy Mount Gay Single Estate Edition 4 now. Keep your eyes peeled for Mount Gay Single Estate Edition 3…
