Mount gay eclipse navy strength
An Overview
Manufacturer:Mount Gay
Place of Origin:Mount Gay, St. Lucy, Barbados
Distillation Method: Pot & Column Blend
Maturity Statement:NAS
Cask Maturation: ex-Bourbon
Alcohol by Volume: 57.1%
This particular bottling, originating from the most enduring rum establishment, initially garnered my attention upon observing its inaugural Instagram announcement. A variant of Mount Gay Eclipse, featuring an elevated alcohol content and an accessible cost? I was immediately intrigued.
Mount Gay Eclipse Navy Strength represents a restricted-availability offering, meticulously formulated by the esteemed master blender, Trudiann Branker, who is also the visionary architect responsible for the Black Barrel Cask Strength and Single Estate releases. The creation of this spirit aimed to commemorate the enduring bond between Mount Gay and the maritime world.
Comprising a harmonious fusion of molasses-derived rums, this spirit is distilled using both Mount Gay's distinctive double retort pot stills and its conventional Coffey column still at their Barbadian site located in St. Lucy. Although an explicit age declaration is absent from the bottling, this Navy Strength variant undergoes a maturation period of two to four years and incorporates a marginally elevated proportion of aged pot still distillate compared to the conventional offering.
Following a period of maturation within charred ex-Bourbon barrels, the Eclipse Navy Strength expression is subsequently packaged with an alcohol by volume content of 57.1 percent.
The designation of "navy strength" and its corresponding alcohol content could potentially attract critical examination regarding the precise adherence to historical definitions of navy strength nomenclature. Frankly, I possess little inclination to delve deeply into the granular specifics, preferring instead to cede this discussion to individuals profoundly knowledgeable in the domains of historical context and chemical composition. However, in substantiation of this categorization, I shall present the intriguing rationale offered by Trudiann herself, as detailed on the official Mount Gay website:
Historically, the Navy Strength standard applied within the United States stood at 57.1% alcohol by volume, and this very benchmark served as Trudiann's chosen criterion for her Eclipse Navy Strength amalgamation.
Appearance
Its visual presentation is characterized by a honey-gold hue and a moderately low viscosity.
Nose
On the aromatic profile, notes of butterscotch, pinecones, vanilla, salted almonds, the quintessential bubblegum scent, and ethanol are perceptible.
Palate
The tasting experience reveals flavors such as vanilla, butterscotch, almond butter, honey syrup, rich dark chocolate, and a hint of black pepper.
Finish
Concluding with a protracted, warming sensation, the finish offers lingering impressions of vanilla, oak, ethanol, cinnamon, and black pepper.
Assessment Score: Seven out of Ten (7/10)
Summary
Notwithstanding a degree of neutrality I harbored concerning the initial iteration, Mount Gay Eclipse Navy Strength emerges as a robust and commendable rum. As might be anticipated, the elevated alcohol content—which stands as its sole or primary distinguishing characteristic—contributes significantly to the depth and opulent character which were noticeably absent from the preceding version.
Initial olfactory and gustatory impressions present a pronounced nuttiness alongside an earthy quality, as evidenced by the appearance of butterscotch, pinecones, and almonds in both the aroma and taste profiles. A unmistakable aroma of classic bubblegum is discernible upon nosing, an aromatic characteristic I have encountered in various relatively youthful Bajan rum expressions. On the palate, vanilla takes precedence, subsequently evolving to reveal a creamy almond butter sensation, before culminating with the presence of bitter dark chocolate and a distinctive black pepper inflection, the latter extending into the aftertaste.
This represents an excellent addition to the Mount Gay portfolio, and it would be highly compelling to witness further "what if?"-inspired bottlings, not merely from this particular label but across the industry as well.