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Mount Gay Releases New Limited Edition Eclipse Navy Strength Rum

mount gay releases new limited edition eclipse navy strength the three drinkers

Rum’s Caribbean heritage goes way back to the 1600s so to be the world's oldest rum distillery takes some doing, and to still be at the top of their game is even more impressive. That honour goes to Mount Gay, who have just launched a new limited-edition rum: Mount Gay Eclipse Navy Strength. This release coincides with Cowes Week, a prestigious sailing event, highlighting Mount Gay's deep-rooted connection with the sailing community.

Established in 1703, Mount Gay has a rich history of crafting exceptional rums in Barbados. The new Eclipse Navy Strength, crafted by Master Blender Trudiann Branker, celebrates this heritage. Did you know that the term "Navy Strength" harks back to a time when sailors needed their rum to be potent enough to ignite wet gunpowder? This meant ensuring it was at least 57.1% ABV, the standard for Navy Strength.

"For this release, I took inspiration from Mount Gay’s long history with sailing," said Branker. "The history of navy strength spirits is fascinating and experimenting with the beloved Eclipse blend at navy strength revealed vibrant flavours. Whether with mixers or in cocktails, it is a delight."

First launched in 1910, Mount Gay Eclipse is renowned for its balanced and aromatic profile, featuring notes of vanilla, almond, ripe banana, and dark chocolate. This limited edition takes it a step further by incorporating older pot still rums aged between two to four years, enhancing its complexity. Bottled at the traditional Navy Strength of 57.1% ABV, Eclipse Navy Strength offers bold flavours of roasted pineapple, banana, mocha, and vanilla, all deliver with a big whack of boozy intensity.

It's a versatile expression that sounds like a lot of fun exploring over simply ice, but it’s perfect for classic and inventive cocktails alike. Mount Gay have suggested some tropical beauties that sound ideal for sunny sipping: 

Navy Paloma

Ingredients:
1oz (30ml) Eclipse Navy Strength
3-4oz (90-120ml) grapefruit soda
Garnish with grapefruit slice

Method:
Simply build in a highball glass and garnish with grapefruit slice.

Navy Punch

Ingredients:
1 oz (30 ml) Eclipse Navy Strength
0.5 oz (15 ml) fresh grapefruit juice
0.5 oz (15 ml) fresh lemon juice
0.5 oz (15 ml) orgeat (or vanilla simple syrup)
1oz (30ml) filtered water (omit water if making a single serve, simply shake and strain over ice)

Method:
A classic batch punch, simply mix everything together with ice in a jug!

Fresh Coco Mojito

Ingredients:
1 oz (30 ml) Eclipse Navy Strength
0.75 oz (22.5 ml) simple syrup (1:1)
1 oz (30 ml) fresh lime juice
2 oz (60 ml) young coconut water
10 mint leaves

Method:
Lightly press mint leaves in the bottom of the shaker tin, add rum, lime and simple syrup and lightly shake. Pour into Collins or highball glass, add coconut water and crushed ice to top. Garnish with mint!

Mount Gay Eclipse Navy Strength is now available at Master of Malt for £35. This limited-edition rum not only honours Mount Gay’s maritime legacy but also delivers an elevated tasting experience for rum enthusiasts – a win for everybody. Celebrate Mount Gay’s storied past and vibrant present with this remarkable new release, a true testament to their enduring craftsmanship and innovation. Cheers to 320 years of exceptional rum, and to many more in the future.

Bring a Bottle Podcast: Episode 99

Bring a Bottle Podcast Episode 99

Episode 99 welcomes back a familiar face from a couple of episodes ago, and that’s Jason Myers! It’s a very special rum that we sip on too, the Madeira Cask from Mount Gay’s Master Blender Collection. Listen for our verdict on this, as well as a sweet Frizzante wine called, ‘the wink’, the brand new virtual reality wine-sniffing experience, and the best wine Jason has ever tried!

Our Guest Drinker

Bring a Bottle Podcast Episode 99 Jason Myers

If you didn’t catch Episode 97, then Jason is a hospitality CEO currently involved with Grosvenor pubs, opening new and exciting projects regularly, like The Hare & Hounds in Newbury, and Wild Thyme and Honey in the Cotswolds. He loves his wine and whisky and has worked and travelled around the world seeking out amazing food and drink experiences. Welcome back, Jason!

What’s In Our Glass?

Mount Gay Madeira Cask Rum

Filling our glasses in the podcast studio this week is a beautiful rum from Mount Gay’s Master Blender Collection, the Mount Gay Madeira Cask Selection. Mount Gay is the world’s oldest rum distillery, and their Mount Gay Madeira Cask Selection is special stuff. A bit of a step away from the other bottles in the collection, you’ll find notes of orchard fruit, pear, grapefruit, vanilla, butterscotch and a really nutty note coming from the Madeira cask. It’s super balanced with a deep complexity to it and with only 2706 bottles made it’s a delicious treat that we are sure will be snapped up fast!

Size: 700ml
ABV: 55%
Find here: £160

Drinks News

olfactory virtual reality wine

Have you ever heard of an olfactometer? Well, it’s a machine designed to deliver odours of some kind, and a Swedish University collaboration has created a wine-sniffing virtual reality experience with it. The user enters a virtual wine cellar, and scores points depending on correct guesses of the aromas in each bottle. We think that after all that you’d be desperate for a taste that isn’t virtual, but the experience still sounds fascinating!

Drinkers Discovery

L’Occhiolino

L’Occhiolino is a sparkling red wine, which translates as, ‘wink’ from Italian. It’s a very unique style of Frizzante from Emilia-Romagna, and although you might not take to it unless you like sweeter wine, it’s a lot of fun. At 7.5% ABV, it’s weaker than your usual Prosecco, and that’s a good job because it is very moreish! If you like a new wine flavour with a yeasty quality, then it’s definitely worth giving a go. We love the bottle too - it would make for a lovely present.

Size: 750ml
ABV: 7.5%
Find here: £12

Mount Gay Distillery Fun Fact

the history of mount gay rum

Ironically, way back in 1703 it was a man called John Sober who originally started the small distillery at the top of Mount Gilboa, Barbados. After a while, Sir John Gay Alleyne, a fourth generation Barbadian was introduced, and his innovations grew the distillery so much that the entire distillery took his name!

Instant Sommelier

best wine for a romantic meal

Listen to find out what Jason’s favourite wine of all time is (this is a guy that’s tried many remember!), as well as his other go-to’s for different occasions.