Second batch of Penny Blue rum unveiled

The Indian Ocean Company and Berry Bros. & Rudd Spirits have announced the arrival of a second batch of Penny Blue XO Rum. (Read about the launch of Batch 001). The Single Estate Mauritian Rum is distilled at Medine; dating back to 1926, it is the oldest operational distillery on the tropical island of Mauritius. The estate is situated on the west of the island, near Bambou.

Doug McIvor from Berry Bros. & Rudd and Jean Francois Koenig, master distiller at Medine, picked 22 casks for maturation, choosing three particular types: Cognac, whisky and bourbon. Selected at their peak of maturity, each cask imparts its own personality and flavour profile; the combination delivers the full balance and complexity.

Penny Blue is a small batch vatted rum, it is natural in colour, un-chill-filtered. All the production happens on the one single estate: from growing the sugar cane to distillation, maturation and bottling. There is no artificial sweetening involved in the process. By adding 10% of the award-winning Batch #001 this ensures some consistency to follow through from the initial release. The oldest rum in this batch is 11 years old, the youngest just 5 years old.

Doug McIvor explains: “Meticulously selecting the casks for maturation ensures each batch is distinct in character. The key is retaining a level of continuity in each batch to maintain the rich, smooth and fruity complexity that makes this single estate rum a real expression of intriguing complexity.”

Named after the world’s rarest stamp, printed in Mauritius in 1847, the Penny Blue immediately became a collectors’ item because of its inscription. A mistake by an engraver resulted in it reading ‘Post Office’ rather than the usual ‘Post Paid’, of the thousands issued only 12 stamps are believed to be in existence today and trade for over US$1m when sold.

The second batch of 7,000 bottles will be available in the US, Europe and Mauritius. The recommended retail price is £40/€50/US$60.

Penny Blue will be exclusively available through Berry Bros. & Rudd in the UK.

6 October 2014 - Felicity Murray The Drinks Report, editor