Rare stamp collectors – a.k.a. philatelists – know the Mauritian Penny Blue stamp as one of the world’s rarest in existence. Rum collectors – a.k.a. rum collectors – know Penny Blue XO as the award-winning Single Estate Mauritian Rum first introduced in 2013. Today, Anchor Distilling Company and London’s Berry Bros. & Rudd Spirits announces the release of the second batch of Penny Blue XO Rum, distilled at Medine, the island’s oldest operational distillery, first opened in 1926.
Penny Blue is a small-batch vatted rum, natural in color and non-chill-filtered, that is entirely produced on a single estate – from growing the sugar cane, to distillation, maturation and bottling. Berry Bros. & Rudd’s spirits manager Doug McIvor and Medine’s master distiller Jean Francois Koenig carefully handpicked 22 casks for maturation – an array of barrels previously holding cognac, whisky or bourbon. Selected at their peak of maturity, each cask imparts its own personality and flavor profile; the combination delivers the full balance and complexity. While the oldest rum in Batch #002 is 11 years old and the youngest is 5, 10% of Batch #001 was also added to ensure consistency from the initial release.
“Meticulously selecting the casks for maturation ensures each batch is distinct in character,” explains McIvor. “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.”
Tasting Notes for Penny Blue XO Batch #002 (43.2% ABV; $60 SRP)
Appearance: Deep amber with golden highlights
Nose: Tropical fruits with hints of eucalyptus, orange marmalade and rich oriental spices
Palate: Round and balanced, soft with creamy oak, rich orange peel and crème caramel
“It is a lucky few that will get to discover the delights of the Penny Blue Batch #002 and even fewer will fully understand the crucial role that Mauritius played in the international development of sugar cane and then rum,” says David King, president of Anchor Distilling. “Penny Blue is thus not only a unique expression of a quality, artisanally produced, hand-bottled rum, it is also a demonstration of a classic spirit’s evolution. I firmly believe that Penny Blue Batch #002 will confirm Mauritius as a prime terroir for top-quality rum.”
The Penny Blue Stamp, printed in Mauritius in 1847, 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 12 are believed to be in existence today. The Penny Blue stamp is as rare and highly collectable as this small batch rum.
Imported by Anchor Distilling Company, only 7,000 individually numbered bottles of Penny Blue XO Batch #002 will be sold in the United States and Europe with 3,000 bottles currently allocated for the U.S. For more information on Penny Blue XO, visit http://indianoceanrum.com/.
