Mount Gay 1703 Master Select

by ,

Mount Gay 1703 Master Select 

This spring Barbados Mount Gay rum distillery launched a new version of its staple 1703 rum. This limited edition, Mount Gay 1703 Master Select, blend is the creation of Master Blender, Allen Smith. It is created by fermenting molasses using a proprietary yeast and well water. The fermented liquid is then sent to either their continuous column still or one of their pot stills for distillation. This rum was aged in used American oak bourbon barrels before it was blended to 43 abv and has a limited run of 12,000 bottles.

Appearance/Presentation

The rum bottle can be found nestled in a black box that is hard to miss on the shelves. The first thing that caught my attention with the bottle was the way the Mount Gay logo stood out. Inside the bottle, the rum has a dark chocolate mahogany color that once poured into the glass lightens to a dark golden amber color. Swirling the liquid creates a band around the glass that slowly thickens and forms equally slow moving legs before beading up and evaporating.

Nose

The aroma of the rum delivers an upfront note of smoky oak, balanced by sweet banana and wisps of caramel and dried apricot nipping around the edges.

Palate

The first sip presents the smoky oak and banana notes from the aroma reminding me of banana foster. Additional sips delivered notes of cinnamon, clove, sweet pineapple and dried apricots. As the rum transitions to the finish there are notes of black pepper, tobacco and earthy minerals.

Review

This limited edition rum has all the earmarks one is used to seeing with a Mount Gay product. The original 1703 was one of my introductions to finer aged Bajan rums and I found this a pleasant step forward from that blend. With its limited world-wide release and respectable price I do not expect this rum to last long in the market place.

-Rum Review by Mr. Paul Senft-  

My name is Paul Senft - Rum Reviewer, Tasting host, Judge and Writer. My exploration of Rums began by learning to craft Tiki cocktails for friends. I quickly learned that not all rums are created equally and that the uniqueness of the spirit can be as varied as the locales they are from. This inspired me to travel with my wife around the Caribbean, Central America, and United States visiting distilleries and learning about how each one creates their rums. I have also had the pleasure of learning from bar tenders, brand ambassadors, and other enthusiasts from around the world; each one providing their own unique point of view, adding another chapter to the modern story of rum. The desire to share this information led me to create www.RumJourney.com where I share my experiences and reviews in the hopes that I would inspire others in their own explorations. It is my wish in the pages of “Got Rum?” to be your host and provide you with my impressions of rums available in the world market. Hopefully my tasting notes will inspire you to tr y the rums and make your own opinions. The world is full of good rums and the journey is always best experienced with others.