Back in April, I had the pleasure of being able to link up with The Real McCoy Rum Brand Ambassador Joshua Perez while he was in town here in Nashville. Not only was it a personal pleasure to be able to meet him; but the fact that he reached out to me still has my mind spinning. Especially when it was to humbly and sincerely say: “Thank you.” for supporting the brand. A brand I will continue to support because of their sincerity and transparency in the rum market.
During our meeting, Josh presented me with this bottle. The Real McCoy 5-Year. The second marque in the brand line and produced in Barbados by Foursquare Rum Distillery; this rum, like the rest of the line, is an ode to rums produced in the early 20th Century/Prohibition Era.
However, one thing that set this bottle apart from the rest of the core line was the proof. Unlike the others, this was bottled at 46%abv as part of the “Distiller’s Proof” line. While the rest of The Real McCoy available on the market is bottled at 40% abv, there was another line bottled at higher percentages to show the character of the rum that Master Distiller/Blender Richard Seale and brand partner Bailey Pryor wanted to showcase with this line.
A blend of column and pot still rums (addendum: despite what I mentioned in my McCoy 3year review; this line is heavier in Pot Still distillate). The Real McCoy Five-Year earns its age statement by spending five years in various ex-bourbon barrels. And because this is an accurate depiction of Prohibition Era Caribbean rum from Foursquare; there are is no added sugar, flavor or artificial coloring.
COLOR
The bottle in particular that I am reviewing comes from the revamped line of The Real McCoy. It sports a traditional, slightly stout prohibition-style bottle with slightly tattered labeling. This is in contrast to the first-gen of The Real McCoy that sported a straight, even label. In a Glencairn glass held to the light; the rum is a solid amber with very light honey highlights on the edges.
NOSE
The initial whiffs are intense. A powerful combination of freshly grated ginger, menthol, and alcohol attack your nose leaving a stinging sensation. Allowing the rum to sit a while allows it to mellow out and the real character begins to come through. A warm aroma of toasted coconut comes forward and is shortly followed up by notes of pencil shavings, banana, and caramel.
PALATE
The first thing is first; I want to clear the air on something. Especially for you bourbon and scotch drinkers. Young cane spirits can put on a show when done correctly and this is correct. Upfront there is a satiating flavor of salted caramels that ignites the palate. Those notes are softened by flavors of honeydew melon and papaya. The fruit character keeps the caramel in check and prevents it from tasting like a “Caribbean Bourbon” if there were such a thing.
BODY
The body is a solid medium overall, but still has this addicting buttery texture on the tongue.
FINISH
Lectin notes of the barrel come through again with some subtle charred marshmallow flavors as the fruit notes dissipate. From there a strong spicy character of white pepper and old cayenne dominate the palate.
OVERALL
This. If I can regularly find this, it will be my new go-to house bottle over all else. At around $25 a bottle, it would be silly to reach for anything else as a daily pour. Not only that; it has been irreplaceable in cocktails of all sorts. Granted the nose and finish can be a bit intense; it is nothing that cannot be tempered by allowing it to sit for a few minutes before imbibing or adding an ice cube to tame the alcohol. One thing I look forward to using this in; is boozy flip-style eggnog. The recipe in question I will use comes from Death & Co:
- ¾ oz The Real McCoy 5-year Distiller’s Proof
- ¾ oz Cognac
- 1 tsp Giffard Vanille de Madagascar
- ¾ oz Cane Sugar Simple Syrup
- 1 oz Heavy Cream
- 1 Whole Egg
Dry shake all ingredients and then shake again with ice. Double strain into a chilled Old-Fashioned glass. Garnish with a few grates of nutmeg.
