The Real McCoy 12 yo

Volume: 0.7 litres | Alcohol content: 46% | Chill filtration: No | Colouring: Yes

Special Features:

Bourbon and Oloroso sherry casks shape this twelve-year-old rum from Barbados. Matured in the island's tropical climate, it combines pot still and column still distillates from the same distillery. This combination of different distillation methods within a single distillery is known as Single Blended Rum.

This bottling contains neither added sugar nor flavourings. It does, however, contain caramel colouring. Bottled at 46% alcohol in a bottle containing 0.7 litres, it is offered without gift packaging. Its oak-led character combines nutty and chocolate notes with pepper and citrus peel.

Tasting Notes:

• Nose: The nose is expansive and oak-led. Roasted hazelnuts, smoky oak and vanilla meet earthy notes and spicy dark chocolate.
• Palate: The rum is intense and full-bodied on the palate. Pepper, orange peel and cocoa combine with maple syrup.
• Finish: The long finish remains delicate, with smoky notes, liquorice, brown sugar and molasses.

Distillery/Bottler:

Foursquare Distillery in Barbados produces The Real McCoy under the direction of Richard Seale. For the brand, it ferments molasses with water and Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeast for 44 hours in closed, temperature- and pressure-controlled tanks. The carbon dioxide generated during fermentation is captured and used to make carbonated drinks.

Distillation uses a copper pot still with two retorts and a two-column Coffey still. The two distillates are blended before cask maturation. This brings together the heavier pot still rum and the lighter column still distillate; maturation and bottling take place in Barbados.

The brand takes its name from Bill McCoy, who sold spirits from his ship beyond the then three-mile limit during American Prohibition. His reputation rested on unadulterated spirits. The Real McCoy draws on this history by using no added sweeteners or flavourings.

Facts: