Penny Blue XO Rum Lands in Australia

By Stefanie Collins, editor bars&clubs

Distilled at the oldest operational distillery on the island of Mauritius, the second batch of single estate Penny Blue XO Rum has become available in Australia. 

Named after the world’s rarest stamp, printed in Mauritius in 1847, Penny Blue is a small-batch vatted rum that is natural in colour and non chill-filtered. Entirely produced on a single estate – from growing the sugar cane to distillation, maturation and bottling – the rum features a blend of rums aged between 11 years old and five years old, as well as 10 per cent of the award-winning Batch #001 rum, launched in October 2013, to ensure consistency between the releases. 

The creation of Penny Blue XO saw Doug McIvor, of Berry Bros. & Rudd, and Jean Francois Koenig, master distiller at Medine, pick 22 casks for maturation, choosing three particular types: Cognac, whisky and bourbon. Each imparts a unique flavour profile to deliver balance and complexity, with no artificial sweetening.

Of the second batch of 7,000 bottles, the Australian market has been allocated just 60 bottles, available through Samuel Smith & Son this month.

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