Holiday Luxury Rum: Mount Gay 1703 Old Cask Selection

The holidays are almost here and what better way to spend them than by uncorking a bottle of luxe aged rum that has spent years maturing in barrels aged 10 to 30 years. Mount Gay1703 Old Cask Selection is premium rum made from a blend of rums of varying ages from Mount Gay’s treasured reserve. The number 1703 in the name signifies the year in which the first Mount Gay rum was distilled in the Isle of Barbados, although speculation is rife that the first distillation was much earlier. And just in case you’re wondering, today, the island distillery is part of the Remy Cointreau group.

Bearing a caramelized color, the rum is smooth on the palate and starts off with a smoky and oaky taste with hints of molasses, toasted tamarind, orange and Christmas spice. The rum does hit you very hard with a rather heavy alcohol content. However, we must warn you that you need a lot of patience with this rum, considering the time it takes for the sweetness to seep in. The bitterness takes no time at all to engulf you, whereas the sweetness can be savored only at the very end. Ending with the taste of smoked leather (yes, the smokiness and woody oak flavors make their appearance once again), the bittersweet finish is long and enduring. If you are a rum aficionado, it may seem like you have met your match.

1703 Old Cask Rum has a simple presentation in an oval shaped decanter style bottle. The bottle has a gold colored cap and a label in the mid-section of the bottle, bearing the name of the rum and a map of Barbados with a little star for the location of the Mount Gay distillery. The design and presentation of the aged rum comes across as being a little too simplistic, given the collectible variety that is available for aged whiskeys, beer and wine. For the age, taste and price, the presentation could have been a tad classier. Perhaps, in the future, this muse too shall find a worthy designer to collaborate with.

The luxury aged rum retails at $119 for a 750 ml bottle and can be purchased from retailers in person and online. Considering the age and character, we would say it is worth every penny.

An absolutely sensual rum, full of richness, body and character, it is guaranteed to keep you warm from head to toe this winter. Time to cuddle up with a book or loved one and say “Bottoms Up”.