Winter Cocktails with Mount Gay Black Barrel

Sharp December 9, 2014

Rum and eggnog is delicious. It really is. And we would never insist you ditch such a holiday staple all together. But don’t limit yourself to rich, creamy cocktails this season. Diversify.

Mount Gay tapped some of Canada’s most talented bartenders for the launch of their new Black Barrel Rum. And what do you get when you mix the best mixologists with a bold and spicy yet seductively smooth, first-class rum?

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Reed Pettit, The Miller

What do you love the most about Mount Gay Black Barrel?

Mount Gay Black Barrel has the complexity and balance to hold true in a drink, it doesn’t get overpowered easily and can shine through in any style. I used two very flavourful modifiers in my cocktail and the Black Barrel is still the star of the show.

Can you tell us your inspiration for your signature Black Barrel cocktail?

I wanted to create a drink to sit back and relax with. The Mount Gay Black Barrel is perfect for sipping on its own but I wanted to lengthen its stay. The Amaro balances out the molasses in the rum, and the addition of Luxardo Maraschino stays on your palate until the next sip.

What was your favourite Barbados moment?

Blending our own rum with master distiller Allen Smith, was hands down the most exciting moment. The boat parties, luxurious dinners, and countless laughs with some of Canada’s top bartenders will never be forgotten. But when it gets down to it, learning about the oldest rum in the world from Mr. Smith was the highlight.

Cocktail Recipe

Tay Bay

45ml Mount Gay Black Barrel

30ml Amaro Di Toscana

15ml Luxardo Maraschino

Stirred – Up – Lemon Twist

The Miller, 31 Bay Street, Toronto

Josh Lindley, Bar Isabel

What do you love the most about Mount Gay Black Barrel?

I love the texture and the finish of the rum. Black Barrel really shows that rum should be considered a noble spirit in the same league as Cognacs and Whiskies.

Can you tell us your inspiration for your signature Black Barrel cocktail?

I really wanted to highlight the richness of Black Barrel, while also highlighting its spiciness. I also wanted to make it simple enough for anyone to make at home.

What was your favourite Barbados moment?

Jet skis! I had never done it before.

Cocktail Recipe

Black Derby Jacket

1.5oz Mount Gay Black Barrel

.5oz Bourbon

.5oz Sweet Vermouth

.5oz Aperol

Stir all ingredients on ice and serve up or on rocks. Garnish with an orange zest.

Bar Isabel, 797 College Street, Toronto

Megan, The Gaslight

What do you love the most about Mount Gay Black Barrel?

I love the oak… obvious I know, but it really adds depth to the rum. It lends really well to cocktails that normally I would make with a bourbon or Canadian Whiskey. It’s nutty, rich and full bodied… What’s not to like!

Can you tell us your inspiration for your signature Black Barrel cocktail?

Midnight Train is inspired by a cocktail I am not ashamed to love: The Espresso Martini. Although it strays far from the original recipe, it has a kick from the espresso which lends itself to the richness of the rum. I wanted to create a cocktail that was appropriate for our Canadian winter but still highlights the qualities of Mount Gay Black Barrel.

What was your favourite Barbados moment?

Well, it was my first time in Barbados, so inevitably I could talk about the beautiful crystal clear water and beach or the wonderful people (both of which are well worth “favourite Barbados moment”). However, what was really unique was the Rum Shops and the cultural drinking that surrounds them. You have to go there to really understand how different Rum Shops are compared to “just bars”. There are no fancy cocktails (although the best rum punch flows aplenty) but there is a real sense of camaraderie amongst the patrons. Like I said, it’s hard to describe unless you’ve been there. There’s just nothing like it anywhere I’ve been.

Cocktail Recipe

Midnight Train

1 oz Mount Gay Black Barrel Rum

0.75 oz Grapefruit Juice

0.25 oz Fernet Branca

0.5 oz Espresso Syrup *

*combine equal parts espresso with Demerara sugar. Heat until sugar dissolves completely.

The Gaslight, 1426 Bloor St. West, Toronto

Simon Hooper, Rush Lane & Co.

What do you love the most about Mount Gay Black Barrel?

It is incredibly smooth, with a long mellow finish. I find that it pairs beautifully with almost anything. It’s also a great shot.

Can you tell us your inspiration for your signature Black Barrel cocktail?

I wanted to do something that would show off the rum without overpowering it. Coconut pairs amazingly. I also wanted to add a cool texture element, so I added a little crunch.

What was your favourite Barbados moment?

Cruising around the island on a catamaran, swimming with sea turtles and diving amongst shipwrecks. And drinking a rum shop out of rum…that was a pretty wild.

Cocktail Recipe

Downtown Chester Brown

2 oz Mount Gay Black Barrel

1oz Coconut Black Tea Syrup

1 egg yolk

4 dashes of Angostura Aromatic Bitters

Sprinkle of cherry wood-smoked toasted coconut crumble

Shake all ingredients (except for coconut crumble) with ice and fine strain into an ISO glass. Sprinkle with coconut crumble.

Rush Lane & Co., 563 Queen Street West, Toronto

Nishan, Blowfish

What do you love the most about Mount Gay Black Barrel?

The smooth combination of flavours from the rum and bourbon touch from the charred barrels brings that warm and comforting sensation you get when you are drinking a black tea in the afternoon. Plus, the spiciness give the cocktail a bold attitude to support the ginger traditionally used whit this tea.

Can you tell us your inspiration for your signature Black Barrel cocktail?

The spiciness of the Mount Gay Black Barrel brought back some memories of the Sri Lankan tea my mom used to make for our family.

What was your favourite Barbados moment?

My best moment in Barbados was riding through Harrison’s Cave with my fellow Canadian bartenders. Seeing Mother Nature’s natural water filtration system at work was impressive!

Cocktail Recipe

Black Marasca

1 1/2 oz Mount Gay Black Barrel Rum

1/2 oz Luxardo Maraschino Liquor

1/2 oz Aperol

3/4 oz House made Black Tea Ginger Honey Syrup (see below)

1 Fresh Lemon Juice

1 Egg White

Dry shake with all the ingredients. Add ice and shake again.
Double strain and serve in a porcelain tea cup.

Black Tea Ginger Honey Syrup

100ml Distilled water

300 g Unskinned ginger

125 g Honey

4 table spoons of strong Black Tea

Chopped and muddle the ginger. Bring all the ingredients to a boil and reserved.

Blow Fish, 668 King St. West, Toronto

Little Sister, 2031 Yonge St. Toronto

Her Majesty’s Pleasure, 556 King St. West, Toronto

Tabule, 810 Queen St E, Toronto

Delicious and innovative cocktails, obviously, that go far beyond your standard rum and eggnog.

Take a page out of the professional’s book and mix up one of these custom Mount Gay Black Barrel cocktails from some Canadian homegrown talent.

Presented by Mount Gay and Sharp

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