Mount Gay problems

Post by **Capn Jimbo** » Wed Mar 19, 2014 7:34 am

Yes, the old ones are now a treasure...

I only have one old one left.

Sleepy, you're on the money. Somewhere here Sue Sea and I decided to taste a current (marketing department bottle) against one lovely old fashioned bottle of MGXO that we'd had for perhaps 6 or 7 years. The difference was notable. JaRiMi too noted that what happens in these cases is that the really good stuff gets saved for the 1703, while the MGXO is slowly tweaked - and not for the good.

I believe their strategy - that unfortunately can work - is to slowly but constantly modify the blend and hope that rum drinkers won't notice the change. That may work at the Shillery, but not here. A damn shame.

Dai · Post by **Dai** » Wed Mar 19, 2014 9:10 am

Nekkandor wrote:To the best of my knowledge the distillery in St. Lucy was incorporated in 1943 as “The Rum Refinery of Mt. Gay Limited”. Before this year the distillery belonged to the “Mount Gay Distilleries Limited” which itself became incorporated in 1942.

The bottling plant IS the still active “Mount Gay Distilleries Limited”. I have no idea if they have any distilling equipment on their premises. But I do know something else. Some of you guys may already know this. The Rum Duty Act in 1906 prohibited the distilleries of selling their own rums as a finished product or in anything smaller than 10 gallons. If this law is still in existence, then the bottling plant is not allowed to posses their own stills in order to produce their own rum.

In 1980 a contract was made between the two companies for the supply of rum to the Mount Gay Distilleries Limited. One of the reasons was because 60% of the company were sold to foreign U.S. agents in that year. Both Companies no longer belonged to the same owner so I guess the formal contract was therefore needed.

Later in 1989 Rémy Cointreau gained the majority of the shares of Mount Gay Distilleries Limited. If the The Rum Refinery of Mt. Gay Limited has ceased its operations and the Mount Gay Distilleries Limited is still bottling rums with the label “Mount Gay” then it only means that they are using their stock of old rums in their warehouse. They are not getting any new and fresh distilled rums from this “refinery”. God knows were it will come from in the future when the distillery will be closed down for good.

Please correct my if I'm wrong guys.

I do know the following distilleries in Barbados:

- Foursquare Distillery
- Mt. Gay Distillery
- Blackrock Distillery (a.k.a West Indies Rum Distillery a.k.a W.I.R.D.)
- St. Nicholas Abbey Distillery (with their small hybrid still (pot-still with a column on its top) called “Annabelle”)

I do believe Cockspur is buying their rums from the Blackrock distillery. This distillery does not bottle their own rums since the Rum Duty Act in 1906.

My understanding of this is that the refinery Does the distilling and the distillery does the blending and bottling (read up on Mount Gilboa to get a better understanding on this) http://www.refinedvices.com/mount-gilboa.

As Nekkandor says it is only bottling and blending of old stock in the distillery left, if the refinery is defunct (clarification needed). It also begs the question where is Mount Gilboa distilled as it only ages for 4 years and, it is triple pot stilled!

Hassouni · Post by **Hassouni** » Wed Mar 19, 2014 10:19 am

The other interesting detail about this rum is that it is produced at the Mount Gay Rum Refinery in St. Lucy, though it should be made clear that Mount Gilboa is an independent product and the operation is currently ran by Frank Ward. Frank is a descendant of Aubrey Ward, who originally acquired the estate that has been in the Ward family since the early 20th century.

The refinery's copper and column stills produce all the rum for Mount Gay's portfolio, however for the production of Mount Gilboa only the copper pot stills are used for the triple distillation process as mentioned above.

from refined vices

Post by **Capn Jimbo** » Wed Mar 19, 2014 11:02 am

Not to be repetitive...

But Mount Gay distilling is jobbed out to other independent distillers, a very recent and very significant change. I'll say it again - there is no way in hell that a fine and special rum can be jobbed out as though you were buying gasoline. Especially regarding pot stilled rum, no two distillers can create exactly the same product, and perhaps not all that close.

As far as I'm concerned when a brand is in name only, and jobbed out for production to the lowest bidder(s) it's over. Compare to the fine rums and single malt whiskies that are produced by a single entity under the same roof, the same managment, the same master distiller, and the same wood master. Look - MGXO has been my #1 rum for a long time, but the facts are the facts. Some of us may think its time to buy up what we can of the already altered spirit; others - and I am one of them - believe that if we are to save the handful of real and pure rums left that we must direct our hard earned dollars to them and only them.

Who's kidding who here? Mount Gay is Mount Gone - watch it continue to change. Pah!

Dai · Post by **Dai** » Wed Mar 19, 2014 11:16 am

Capn Jimbo wrote:Not to be repetitive...

But Mount Gay distilling is jobbed out to other independent distillers, a very recent and very significant change. I'll say it again - there is no way in hell that a fine and special rum can be jobbed out as though you were buying gasoline. Especially regarding pot stilled rum, no two distillers can create exactly the same product, and perhaps not all that close.

As far as I'm concerned when a brand is in name only, and jobbed out for production to the lowest bidder(s) it's over. Compare to the fine rums and single malt whiskies that are produced by a single entity under the same roof, the same managment, the same master distiller, and the same wood master. Look - MGXO has been my #1 rum for a long time, but the facts are the facts. Some of us may think its time to buy up what we can of the already altered spirit; others - and I am one of them - believe that if we are to save the handful of real and pure rums left that we must direct our hard earned dollars to them and only them.

Who's kidding who here? Mount Gay is Mount Gone - watch it continue to change. Pah!

If all the speculation pans out to be right I agree with the quote from Jimbo

da'rum · Post by **da'rum** » Wed Mar 19, 2014 12:40 pm

Ok, after my ill informed and purely speculative post I'll switch tracks like a seasoned politician and say that Mount gay is now on my don't buy list which seems to be expanding exponentially.

Dai · Post by **Dai** » Thu Mar 20, 2014 11:26 am

da'rum wrote:Ok, after my ill informed and purely speculative post I'll switch tracks like a seasoned politician and say that Mount gay is now on my don't buy list which seems to be expanding exponentially.

Don't think I'll jump ship just yet. I'll wait and see how things develop first.

Hassouni · Post by **Hassouni** » Thu Mar 20, 2014 3:25 pm

Agreed. It's still a great rum, with no sugar added to boot!

sleepy · Post by **sleepy** » Thu Mar 20, 2014 10:05 pm

Hass - you are certain there is no added sugar now? How?

MGXO has gone from being an exemplar of fine craftsmanship to a very drinkable but unremarkable overpriced commodity - I'll not be dumping the big bucks it costs except on extreme sale (<$25).

What's better at the same retail price tag? Appleton Extra - dry, true and honest, or MGXO, now sweeter, less complex and "manufactured"

...and Jimbo - I'll pick a bone with you! With shaky pot stills and baling wire and duct tape columns, quality rum's never been about the distiller (tho important); rum is about the blender! Each batch of distillate is different, as is each of aged. So, from the odd collection of barrels available, how do I build the product that matches the name on the label? That art requires a fine palate and remarkable knowledge.

To some extent, I understand that the challenge and required (rare) artistry has caused more and more to turn the taste of rum over to the chemists. Nonetheless, those few remaining artists should stand forward like proud roosters with harems of 40 hens! (hmm- not a bad rum name

)

For myself, I'll taste the product and decide - proof of "purity" is no more relevant to the pleasure in my mouth than "loyalty oaths" are to my trust in politicians. If no added sugar is so important, why aren't we rhapsodizing Captain Morgan (apart from the fact that is complete crap AND the product of a corporate criminal)?

Hassouni · Post by **Hassouni** » Fri Mar 21, 2014 1:04 am

I thought MGXO had been tested by refractometer? Either way, it tastes EXTREMELY dry, like other proven unaltered rums - but my bottle is over 2 years old so maybe the newest ones are different?

Post by **Capn Jimbo** » Fri Mar 21, 2014 6:55 am

Good stuff, again...

Great posts, thanks. Hass, we actually don't know how the MGXO was tested - I asked the Count directly and he was unwilling to share his method. Fortunately RS's opinion was based on his intimate knowledge of Barbadian practices and his density test (hydrometer based).

Sleepy, the notion of blended as "superior" was raised earlier, also by RS. Indeed, I made sure to post that to provide balance (pun intended). But to suggest that single and independent entity creation, production and control doesn't matter is short-sighted. Foursquare or Appleton (and formerly MGXO) are perfect examples of that.

Yes, they blend. Yes, both their pot and Coffey-stilled components are under their close and complete control. It takes both. What I AM saying is that some of us - like the single malt fans - have a particular interest and respect for the tremendous art of pot stilling who cannot fall back on a blend to make the spirit sing.

That my friend is a rare and special talent and artistry that is worth support. I'll say it again: a dollar spent with the Big Three or Remy is an investment in rum's demise. The fact that there was a good view from the bridge of the Titanic does not justify the trip.

If we really care about the remaining pure product and the independents who produce them - and they are hurting - we must share the pain and give up the dwindling pleasure of a fading MG to make sure our limited voice and dollars go to support them.

Dai · Post by **Dai** » Fri Mar 21, 2014 10:49 am

Hassouni wrote:I thought MGXO had been tested by refractometer? Either way, it tastes EXTREMELY dry, like other proven unaltered rums - but my bottle is over 2 years old so maybe the newest ones are different?

Do you actually drink it or is it for decorative purposes only! Mine is nearly gone and I only bought it for Christmas, longest it's lasted me. I shall be having some this weekend.

Hassouni · Post by **Hassouni** » Sun Mar 23, 2014 12:41 am

I drink it, but I save it for rare treats

Dai · Post by **Dai** » Sun Mar 23, 2014 9:16 am

Hassouni wrote:I drink it, but I save it for rare treats

You need to treat your self more often (you're worth it).

Dai · Post by **Dai** » Thu Jul 10, 2014 6:09 am

http://www.thespiritsbusiness.com/2014/ ... y-closure/

I'm still confused!!

Is Mount Gay actually distilled in Barbados?
The refinery was the distilling operation as far as I'm aware and, the bottling was was in the distillery (I think)?

Any one care to clarify this?