Gay xo

Mount Gay XO is somewhat of an institution in the rum world. It was one of the few shining lights of unadulterated rum in a sea of sugar added, debatable age statement carrying, faux premium products. There is no best rum in the world to me. I see it more as a reference rum.

If someone new to the category asks me what rum tastes like, I could give a thousand answers, as there is such variety in the category. But one of my very likely answers is Mount Gay XO. Responsible for the gay xo XO is master blender Allen Smith. He started working at Mount Gay in and retired in His successor is Trudiann Branker, the first female master blender in Barbados, who created the new XO blend.

The Black Barrel and XO are obvious examples. I was never a big fan of Black Barrel, but the new blend is a big improvement imho. Much more interesting and approachable for new and old rum drinkers. Is it the same for the XO? The previous XO is a blend of rums aged 8 to 15 years.

The new has an age range of 5 to 17 years. The rums in the blend are individually aged in ex-bourbon, cognac and American whiskey casks. I did this tasting on the balcony of my hotel room in Barbados, which was right on the beach. Technically not ideal circumstances for a tasting, but gay xo ideal at the same time.

New Mount Gay XO. Heavenly combo of fruit and oak, old barn wood, hay, marzipan, buttery, rum n raisin ice-cream, tobacco.

Mount Gay XO - Old vs New - Rum Review

Very fruity nose. Old Mount Gay XO. Oak, vanilla, light rubber, burnt oak is wonderful, caramel, raisins, chocolate, baking spices. I prefer new XO on the nose. Oak, vanilla, tobacco, light coconut and a ton of fruit. Light tobacco and oak on the medium finish that has a slight bitter dark chocolate note.

Oak is fairly strong, just scraping out a win in the fight against the sweetness and fruitiness. The wood spice is turned down a lot vs old XO, but there is more going on overall. A lot more wood spice. Chocolate, gay xo, raisins, light coconut. Less delicate than new, more body.

Longer finish with a mild bitterness. There is a bias in familiarity. To battle that, I spent a very long time with these two rums to compare them properly.