Described as the oldest UK produced rum on the market, J. Gow Fading Light XO is a bottle I just had to purchase. I’m a massive fan of Collin van Schayk and his J. Gow rums so I have quite the expectations from this one.
J. Gow is made in Orkney, Scotland and its name is inspired by the infamous pirate who ended up being hanged there (twice due to a rope error), John Gow.
I still remember the first J. Gow Fading Light – it was a one yea old rum aged solely in chestnut casks, which was quite intriguing at the time. According to their website: “Chestnut is more porous than oak, creating more interaction with the spirit, wood and air around the cask. This counteracts the slow maturation typical of our cold climate.”.
Now we get to try a much older chestnut cask (2nd fill) aged version which spent no less than 6 years maturing. In fact this is the same distillate (SD/DS marque) as last year’s J. Gow Hall of Clestrain which was the Best Rum Release Of The Year 2023 for me. The Fading Light XO distillate went into the barrel on 04.09.2018 and was bottled at cask strength on 05.09.2024 with only 260 bottles available.
J. Gow Fading Light XO is molasses based, fermented for 14 days, pot still distilled and aged for 6 years in a chestnut cask. Bottled at 53.5% ABV without any additives.
On the nose it feels pretty full bodied. Walnuts, almonds, nail varnish and sawdust. Red apples, blueberry jam and olive brine. Quite the amalgam of flavours, both savoury and moreish. Tamed tobacco, shoe polish, overripe bananas and hints of anise. Green tea bags, freshly baked bread, dusty cardboard and some strawberries.
On the palate the wood spice is coming out. Nutmeg, cloves, white pepper, stem ginger and some anise. Golden Syrup, bananas and fresh tobacco. I’ve never eaten a chestnut, but I assume this is what it tastes like and I want one now. Almonds, walnuts and cocoa butter. Palm sugar, green tea and hints of green olives. Canned peaches and and a little rose jam. The finish is long with acetone and barrel spices.
It’s interesting how chestnut casks are not more prominent and experimental because it sure works out for J. Gow. It gives it an interestingly nutty flavour with layers of fruity & savoury notes and plenty of complexity.
You can buy J. Gow Fading Light XO for £75 which is a very good price for a single cask Scottish rum bottled at barrel strength – not to mention you also get an exclusive wooden J. Gow Fading Light XO engraved coaster with it which is pretty cool if you ask me. I’d hurry to get one before the stock runs out!
J. Gow Fading Light XO score:
Flavour/taste: 61/70
Value for money: 15/15
Transparency/purity: 15/15
Overall: 91/100
Cheers!
One thought on “Review: J. Gow Fading Light XO”