To celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Barbadian Independence, Mount Gay Distilleries released 3,000 bottles of XO Cask Strength, a limited-edition of its spirit XO.
This rum features a blend of spirits matured for eight to 15 years. The rich, oaky taste of the rum is rounded out by notes of ripe banana and toasted almond, the company reports, followed by vanilla and spice.
Each bottle comes in a keepsake wooden box with a booklet that will take readers through the history of rum’s inception in Barbados. A portion of the sales of every bottle sold will be donated to the Barbados Museum and Historical Society to support its efforts in conserving the history and culture of Barbados, the company says.
“This is our tribute to the spirit of Barbados, the original birthplace of rum, and the people that make this island so unique,” explains Allen Smith, Master Blender. “To taste XO Cask Strength is to experience everything that fans love about XO, but it gives connoisseurs the special opportunity to enjoy the truest intensity of XO aromas straight from the casks.”
This collector’s item will be available at select premium liquor and spirits stores in the United States, Barbados, United Kingdom, Belgium, France and Australia in November 2016. Offered in 750-ml. or 700-ml. bottles at 63 percent alcohol by volume (dependent on country), XO Cask Strength will sell for a suggested retail price of $185 per bottle.
