Allen Smith – Master Blender, Mount Gay Rum
Several weeks ago, I was given an opportunity to interview Allen Smith, Master Blender at the Mount Gay Distillery in Barbados. Smith was promoted to Master Blender at Mount Gay Rum Distillery in 2010. In this role, Allen overseas all aspects of the brand’s new blending facility at St. Lucy with a continuing focus on innovation shaped by his years of experience.
One of the topics I brought up was the Cocktail Revolution and how Mount Gay Rum is reacting to this world-wide trend. Allen responded by noting how bartenders and mixologists have embraced his rums:
” As I travel across the globe and meet rising bartenders and mixologists, I love how they are embracing Mount Gay. They are coming to me to learn about the key aromatics in our rums, so that when they create their cocktails they are enhancing the spirit rather than masking it. I’m thrilled to hear that they are mixing our rums and creating delicious drinks with it.”
During the Interview, Allen said, that although he prefers to drink his rum directly from the barrel (neat and at full strength), occasionally he does enjoy a certain cocktail as well, the Black Storm. The Black Storm is of course a variation upon the popular Dark ‘n Stormy. It is though mixed with Mount Gay Black Barrel Rum rather than with Goslings.
The Black Storm
My interview with Allen Smith will be published in a few days, and I thought that a nice way to introduce that interview would be to feature Mr. Smith’s preferred mixed drink and the rum he prefers to mix with, Mount Gay 1703 Black Barrel.
The Black Storm
2 oz Mount Gay 1703 Black Barrel
Citrus Wheel (usually Lime)
ice
5 oz Ginger Beer
Add ice and a citrus wheel to large glass
Add Mount Gay 1703 Black Barrel Rum
Top with ginger beer
Enjoy Responsibly!
If you are interested in more of my original cocktail recipes, please click this link (Cocktails and Recipes) for more of my mixed drink recipes!
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I hope you enjoy the Black Storm. My alluded to Interview with Allen Smith will publish on Monday, and my review of Mount Gay 1703 Black Barrel Rum will publish on Friday.
Chimo!
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Mount Gay 1703 Black Barrel Rum was introduced in 2014. It is comprised of a blend of rums produced from both pot and column still distillation and aged in heavily charred bourbon barrels. According to the Mount Gay Distillery Master Blender, Allen Smith the Black Barrel Rum was specifically blended to give rum enthusiasts the best of two worlds:
The Rum Howler Blog 