Penny Blue XO Mauritian rum launched

The Indian Ocean Rum Company and Berry Bros. & Rudd Spirits have launched Penny Blue. Named after the world’s rarest stamp, Penny Blue is distilled at Medine, the oldest operational distillery on Mauritius, dating back to 1926. The estate is situated a few metres from the sea on the west of the island, near Bambou.

Doug McIvor from Berry Bros. & Rudd and Jean Francois Koenig, master distiller at Medine Distillery, have selected 14 individual casks at the very peak of their maturity. The single estate limited edition XO Mauritian rum is a vatting comprising rum matured in American oak whisky casks and French oak Cognac casks. Penny Blue is natural in colour, un-chill-filtered and has been bottled on the estate.
 
Luke Tegner, brands marketing director of Berry Bros. & Rudd Spirits, comments: “Penny Blue is a logical addition to our range of top quality, premium spirits. For over 300 years Berry Bros. has been providing its customers with the world’s finest wine and spirits. Penny Blue fits perfectly with this heritage.”

This deep golden rum is beautifully balanced, smooth and complex with citrus, tropical fruits, nutty aromas with hints of vanilla.

Printed in Mauritius in 1847, the Penny Blue stamp immediately became a collectors’ item because of its inscription. A mistake by the engraver resulted in it reading “Post Office” rather than the usual “Post Paid”. From the thousand stamps printed at the time, only twelve are believed to be in existence today. The Penny Blue stamp is rare and highly collectable …as is this small batch rum!
 
The first batch of 5,946 individually-numbered bottles will be sold in the US and Europe. The recommended retail price is £40/€50/US$80.
 

9 October 2013 - Felicity Murray The Drinks Report, editor