A Love Rekindled: Mount Gay Eclipse
My first taste was probably about 12 years ago. At that time, I had yet to make my (now) wife an honest woman and I had not yet been to the Caribbean... It was a drink that you couldn't get locally, unless you got extremely lucky in one of the corner shops. Supermarkets didn't stock it and I didn't even know that there were different expressions available.
Before we got married, on a particular trip up to see one of Pauline's Uncle and Aunties, I had a tip off that I was likely to be taken to one side with the "other" men and the rum would come out. The word was that other fella's had been gotten legless and gently "tested" for suitability to marry into the family. I'm pleased to say that I stuck to my guns and avoided the rum - the beers did get me drunk, but at least I knew where I was with them (pissed mostly). A few days later a gentle "pass" slipped down the grapevine, so I felt pleased. I was worried that if I drank the rum I might have gotten really bad and that could have led anywhere. I'm sure my Bajan Uncle Kenneth was disappointed at the time and if the opportunity presented itself now - I would happily join in. I'm sure that the rum would have been Mount Gay.
March 2000 saw me married into a West Indian family and by now rum was a more common place drink in my life. I wasn't big into rum; I was a lager boy, as my waistline will testify.
Rum was still mostly brought back from Shepherds Bush market, rather than sourced locally and I did enjoy it when given the chance. None of my friends knew anything about it, but I was smug in my specialist knowledge.
The honeymoon to Barbados allowed me imbibe and I'm pleased to say I did! Banks beer still featured largely, but Sugar Cane Brandy and Extra Old was introduced as was another brand: Cockspur.
 Local Bajan's reckoned it wasn't fit to clean the windscreen of your car with, but I couldn't understand that. It was made a great rum and coke and I was a fan.
A few years later (Jan 2003), I decided my 30th birthday would be more enjoyable and bearable in the sunshine, so it was off to Barbados again for a couple of weeks. This time I had practiced beforehand and could drink Eclipse neat (well on the rocks) and apart from the highly embarrassing event in Tommy's (at the Almond Beach Resort) where it turns out you can drink too much rum, my love affair with the stuff was confirmed. I had a trip to the Mount Gay distillery, which was much shortened because of the refurb work going on. However, we did get to the bar at the end where I met the Mount Gay ambassador, Chester Browne for the first time. We got to try the range and Pauline managed to show up one big Yank (a former running back (?) for the New York Jets if my memory serves me right) with her drinking ability which made him look like a bit of a girl... I kept a little quiet at this point because neat rum was still a little bit too much for me. I was a still a fan though.
A few years passed where rum didn't feature so largely in my life (can't think why! - must have been during my wine or whiskey phase). August 2007 saw us back out in Barbados, we were right back in the rum groove having spent three weeks at the Cricket World Cup earlier that year. St. Vincent and St. Lucia had played host and we had got in to the habit of asking for a coke with rum, rather than a rum and coke as it seemed like there must have been a world coke shortage and the bar staff seemed reluctant to serve it. I can't remember exactly when it was, but I was sure that the flavour of the Mount Gay I remembered wasn't the same as the stuff being served these days. I quizzed people about this, but couldn't get an explanation. I guess my palete must have developed, but I just didn't like it as much as I used to.
I have to admit, that the local rum's didn't feature too highly. Carib, Red Stripe, Piton and Hairoun were a big part of the holiday. I know that there will always be next time though for the rum.
Rumfest last year saw Pauline and I, re-acquainted with Chester and I felt the urge to put my doubts to him about the flavour change. A straight NO came back (not in a rude way, just firmly put). I sort of wondered if the question had been asked before, but dismissed it again.
We had such a great time at Rumfest that we went back on the Sunday and I'm pleased to say that I spoke to another company under the Barbados Rum banner - we had a really great conversation and when I tried to venture my point about the flavour change, I received a different response. The information was deliberately "trimmed" short, and nothing would persuade [anon], to say more than "the supply of molasses had changed". I really thought that perhaps there was a more to it than that and that some juicy piece of gossip was hanging there unspoken. Ah well... perhaps someone will enlighten me and I will get to the bottom of it. I'm sure it's not just me: I'm sure that the flavour has changed. Time robs me of the detail of the original sensation.
So is the new stuff bad? No - certainly not! It still goes well with coke and I'm enjoying a little for the first time in at least six months whilst I write this.
I have several friends that are rum converts and the reason why is down to Mount Gay Eclipse - I used to be something of an ambassador for the stuff. In fact, I'm now having to spend a good bit of time explaining that I've subsequently found that there are a great many taste sensations out there and Bajan rum isn't the be all and end all! Appleton Special is just as good with coke and is generally £2 a bottle cheaper in the supermarkets. Barbados is expensive - the tourists will tell you that and I can back them up. Bajan's generally have a fairly high opinion of themselves and at times, this is deserved. The rums from the island reflect this opinion.
Having spent the last five months purchasing and trying some of the best rums that are on offer, do I feel that the £14.49 spent on the Eclipse was a waste? No! not at all. As I drink it, I think back to the many experiences I've enjoyed over the years. I can't help but smile - Eclipse was my first love and still retains a special place in my heart.
A golden mojito must surely follow before the night is out... - Pete
So many links are worth following up, that I can't list them all here. The first is particulary interesting and speaks volumes about the rum push going on these days.
http://www.keylink.org/alcohol/pdfs_assets/Mount-Gay-Rum-UK-2008.pdf
http://www.mountgay.com/
http://www.barbados.org/mountgay.htm
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The Booze Cabinet 
