Skip to main content

Mount Gay Rum’s Master Blender Unveils New Blends for 2022

Trudiann Branker took over the reins as Mount Gay master blender less than a year ago, in April 2019. However, she has already been making her mark on the brand in ways that seem subtle but actually have a big impact. At a recent tasting in New York City, Branker talked about her respect for the tradition and history of the distillery, which has been around since 1703, making it the oldest licensed rum producer in the world. Mount Gay rum is made from three ingredients — water, molasses, and yeast. It is distilled in both column and pot stills, and is aged in a variety of casks, the majority of which are American whiskey barrels. There are four main expressions, but Branker has focused on just two of them to make her mark as the new master blender.

Mount Gay Rum Trudiann Branker Master Blender
Mount Gay Rum/Facebook

Black Barrel has undergone what is perhaps the most significant change to the components of the blend. Branker has shifted the age range of the liquid from the previous two to seven years to three to seven years old. She has also increased the amount of pot still distillate in the blend. Finally, she has tinkered with what is arguably the core identity of Black Barrel. After initial maturation in ex-American whiskey barrels (the exact type are not disclosed), the rum is finished in heavily charred ex-bourbon barrels. That finish has been increased from four weeks to six months, allowing the rum to pick up even more intense notes of vanilla, spice, and banana.

Recommended Videos

For XO, Branker has made two changes. First, the blend of rum is now five to 17 years old, instead of eight to 15 years. This gave her more liquid to play with on both the younger and older sides, each of which brings different flavors to the mix. Most importantly, she has added cognac barrel-aged rum to the blend, which used to consist of only American whiskey and bourbon barrel-aged rum, the same as Black Barrel. This brings more candied fruit and baking spice flavors to the palate of this already complex spirit.

“We believe in aging in Barbados, using water sourced in Barbados. These are not talking points; this is how we make rum, and we’re very passionate about that.”

Listening to Branker describe the art of rum-making reveals a master blender who is passionate and knowledgable about her craft. She mentioned that the column still distillate is a bit lighter than the pot still distillate, for example, and how barrel aging tends to bump up the column still character while calming and smoothing out the pot still identity. She also has pretty strong feelings about the ongoing conversation on a geographical indicator (GI) for Barbados rum, which would legally define the parameters of how it can be made.

“It’s no secret where Mount Gay stands,” she said. “We are definitely in agreement with our fellow distilleries in regards to … I don’t want to say setting rules, but preserving how Barbadian rum has been made.”

The only sticking point so far seems to be that there are a few distilleries that would like to add sugar or color to their rum, or even age it off the island. For Branker and Mount Gay, this won’t fly. “We want to be sure that for the next 300 years, we’re able to still make rum the same way, still preserve the art of making rum,” she said. “So where we stand in regard to a GI is clear — we believe in aging in Barbados, using water sourced in Barbados. These are not talking points; this is how we make rum, and we’re very passionate about that.”

Jonah Flicker
Jonah Flicker is a freelance writer who covers booze, travel, food, and lifestyle. His work has appeared in a variety of…
Add a touch of agave to your Valentine’s celebrations with these tequila cocktails
Shake up Valentine's Day with these tequila drinks
Tequila CAZADORES

When you imagine romantic drinks for Valentine's Day, you might assume that you'd opt for wine or Champagne. But the object of your affection might appreciate a delicious cocktail, even including an ingredient like tequila. The drinks from Tequila Cazadores are perfect for that, balancing well-known and well-loved flavors like tequila and lime with more unusual ingredients like prickly pear, cranberry, and lychee.  These cocktails from brand ambassador Manny Hinojosa use the flavors of tequila to create bold, tasty drinks that retain a romantic and classy air.
Rosita Crafted by Manny Hinojosa

Ingredients:

Read more
Fall in love with these sweet bourbon cocktails
Try these bourbon-inspired twists on classic cocktails
2BAR’s Seelbach Cocktail

When it comes to whiskey varieties for use in cocktails, bourbon is a stand-out for its versatility. Depending on how you combine it with other ingredients, bourbon can be sweet, or spicy, or spirituous, and that lends itself to uses in many kinds of drinks. If you're looking for something sweet to drink this Valentine's season, then 2BAR spirits has suggestions for making use of its bourbon in these twists on classic cocktails.

There's a bourbon-heavy take on the ever-popular espresso martini, that also adds chocolate notes for that indulgent feeling, and a Seelbach cocktail which adds bourbon to sumptuous Champagne for a real touch of luxury.
2BAR Bourbon Chocolate Espresso Martini

Read more
See the fancy cocktails this Chicago bar has created for cuffing season
Gorgeous drinks using Earl Grey, home infused vodka, and more
Hearts on Fire

If you're feeling ambitious this romantic season, why not push the boat out with some really spectacular cocktails? These drinks are from Farm Bar in Chicago, where head bartender Justin Young has been working on a romantic menu incorporating ingredients like house-infused citrus vodka and Earl Grey Tea concentrate.

The menu includes two drinks, with a martini variation called Hearts on Fire -- “a drink that warms both body and soul — citrusy, floral, and just the right amount of sweetness. It’s versatile enough to start your evening or end it on a romantic note," Young says, plus a playful take on the London Fog cocktail called Cuffing Season. “Think of this cocktail as a warm hug in a glass," Young says. "The combination of Earl Grey, lavender, and gin delivers a soothing complexity, while the creamy oat finish rounds it all out. It’s the perfect drink to embrace the cozy energy of the season and the romance in the air.”
Hearts On Fire

Read more