Mount Gay Eclipse Rum

This rum was part of a tasting trio from Flaviar. I am relatively new to evaluating rum critically. While I have sampled numerous "sipping rums" during my travels in Florida, Puerto Rico, and the Caribbean, the New Year in 2021 marked a more serious appreciation for this spirit, and my fondness for Foursquare is quite strong. Let's see what this renowned brand offers. The pour is a pale brass color. Swirling reveals multiple thin legs and a light sheen that quickly disappears. I suspect it might be a bit thin. I allowed it to rest for a good five minutes before tasting it neat from a glencairn glass. The aroma is subtle, with notes of cotton candy, cut grass, and gentle butterscotch. Fortunately, the aroma is free of any ethanol or chemical notes. It's very delicate, yet clean and pleasant. On the palate, this rum continues its light-bodied journey. Surprisingly, it reminds me of Japanese whisky, specifically Suntory's Toki. It's very light and refined. It's not complex at all. There's a mild sweetness, a hint of honey, a touch of caramel, very faint white pepper, and a short, clean finish. A blush of ginger is present, and a light sweetness lingers on the palate after swallowing. This is the opposite of demanding. The finish is brief, clean, and combines sweetness with a hint of sour lemondrop. Interestingly, I detect no banana or fruit. I perceive more banana from a Belgian ale than is present in this by a significant margin. It's acceptable as a sipper, but not compelling enough for enthusiasm. It could serve as a reasonable mixer, but its fleeting flavor profile means it will easily be lost in complex cocktails. I imagine it would be a good choice for a highball with Q soda and an orange zest twist. It might also be interesting to incorporate it into a Manhattan-style drink with an Ambrato vermouth. That will likely be my next experiment. This bottle costs $20. It offers good value with no significant flaws for its affordable price point. It's not really my preference, but I'm not critical of it. I would gladly exchange a 90% full 750ml bottle of Toki for a 50% full bottle of this! I rate on a scale where 1 is undrinkable for me and 5 is a perfect example of the expression. Considering a bell curve, most competently produced liquors should fall between 2 and 3, with the peak at 2.5. I believe this is an honest 2.75, which is not a negative aspect at this price point.

Rated: 10/23 I sampled this a while back, prior to starting my reviews. I was quite certain I wouldn't get another full bottle, but fortunately, I found a sample. Appearance: Lighter than expected in my glass. Not a promising sign. Nose: Not much going on here. I detect some burnt sugar and orange peel. The alcohol is also noticeable. Palate: Quite smooth, though there's a bit of a burn and some roughness towards the end. Burnt sugar is prominent, along with what seems like barrel tannins and maybe a touch of clove. However, there's also a pleasant tropical quality with abundant oranges, and perhaps hints of pineapple, mango, and banana. The alcohol comes through at times. The palate isn't very full and isn't as intensely bitter as I might have implied. It lacks complexity, but the balance is decent. It's actually considerably more pleasant than I anticipated based on the aroma. Finish: Bitter, slightly numbing, alcoholic, and generally light. Forgettable and almost unnoticeable even as I experience it. - Conclusion - This lacks the strength for a great mixer and the body and/or complexity for an enjoyable sipper. It's very bland, but not exactly unpleasant. Is it worse than a 12? Yes. Is it worse than Don Q Añejo? Yes, but not as much as I'd predicted. I could see giving this a 9 or 10. I appreciate the significantly greater fullness of Plantation 3 Stars compared to this, which elevates it to a better sipping category for me. I briefly considered an 11, but I'll settle on a 10 here.

Allspice and warmth are present initially, followed by notes of cream soda and banana, with a spicy, almost sarsaparilla-like quality. It has a full mouthfeel but isn't particularly juicy. Addendum: When tasted from a Glencairn Glass: The color is a clear gold, with no hint of brown, and thankfully, it doesn't resemble urine, which was an expectation. The aroma has an initial astringency, but it's not unpleasant and doesn't deter drinking. There's also a lot of pepper upfront, some nuttiness, and a bit of vanilla cake. The taste is very mellow and sweet, but then becomes strongly spicy (like sweet baking spices and a hint of clove) and burns all the way down the throat.

Initially, this rum doesn't present as a Maritime style at all! While it does have exotic characteristics, like the pure coral-filtered spring water, this rum leans more towards a whiskey profile. It's not sweet, especially when compared to Sailor Jerry's Rum. As someone who enjoys single malt scotch, I do appreciate Three Canes Rums. I decided to try this one, and to my disappointment, I can honestly say I AM NOT IMPRESSED!

This is an intricate Gold Rum crafted by Master Distiller Allen Smith for Mount Gay Distilleries Ltd in Barbados. It begins with an aromatic bouquet of banana, apricot, fresh blossoms, and vanilla. Its dense and tart middle phase introduces notes of fruit, toasted wood, smoke, herbs, and spices, leading to a warm and spicy conclusion with hints of oak, honey, and lemon. Recorded in March 2021.

Sweet notes of honey and cake batter, with smoke and brine on the mid-palate. It's very smooth and easy to drink. Surprisingly sweet for an unadulterated spirit. Overall, a very pleasing introductory pour that offers great value for its cost, but it doesn't have the complexity or finish to contend with top-shelf options.