The Real McCoy 5 Year is a single blended Barbados rum distilled in copper pot and twin column stills at Foursquare Distillery, aged five years in ex-bourbon barrels with no added sugar or flavor, and bottled at 80 proof (40% ABV).
The rum is named for Bill McCoy, the pioneering rum runner of the Prohibition era, who never adulterated his spirits while copycat runners stretched theirs with turpentine, wood alcohol and prune juice. True to that legacy of transparency, in 2020 The Real McCoy became the first US brand to print Ingredients and Serving Facts on its label: Barbados spring water, rum, and time, with natural caramel color added to the 5 and 12 year.
It is produced at the fourth-generation Foursquare Distillery, winner of more than 100 awards and one of the most awarded rum producers of the modern era, with the expertise of master distiller Richard Seale. Made from high-quality molasses and pure, coral-filtered Bajan water, the rum is distilled in small batches in copper pot and column stills, then tropically aged in American oak bourbon barrels, with no added sugar, flavoring or chemical stabilizers.
It delivers a rich core of brown sugar, vanilla and caramel, layered with baking spices like cinnamon and nutmeg, dried fruit and toasted oak, with a toasty, gently spiced finish.
Sip it neat or on a rock, or let it lift a Daiquiri, a Mai Tai or a Dark & Stormy, where its warm spice stands up to the ginger beer.
Tasting Notes
-
Nose: Brown sugar, vanilla, toasted oak.
-
Palate: Caramel, cinnamon, nutmeg, dried fruit.
-
Finish: Toasty and gently spiced.
Specifications
-
Distillery: Foursquare Distillery, Barbados
-
Stills: Copper pot and twin column
-
Aging: 5 years in ex-bourbon barrels
-
Additives: No added sugar or flavor
-
Proof / ABV: 80 proof (40% ABV)
-
Size: 700ml
How to Enjoy It
Sip it neat, or mix a Daiquiri, a Mai Tai or a Dark & Stormy.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who makes it?
Foursquare Distillery in Barbados.
Who was the Real McCoy?
Bill McCoy, a Prohibition rum runner who never watered down his rum.
Is anything added?
No sugar or flavor; natural caramel color only.
Explore more in our Rum collection.
