For more than 150 years, the Gosling family – now in its eighth generation – has been preserving the recipe for its famous Black Seal Rum. Most of it is kept close to the chest, of course, but one thing is known to all: It includes only the finest spirits, which are triple-distilled using pot and column stills. These components are then aged for three to six years in toasted first-fill bourbon casks made of American oak. Finally, they are expertly blended in a meticulous process that gives Goslings Black Seal Rum the smooth, sumptuous flavour and subtle elegance that has garnered so many awards.

It was in early 1806 that James Gosling, the eldest son of the wine and spirit merchant William Gosling, set out from Gravesend (County Kent), England, on a ship bound for America. The hold of that vessel, the Mercury, contained goods worth ten thousand pounds sterling. James Gosling intended to turn a fair profit with this merchandise in the Thirteen Colonies – but fate had other plans. After 91 days of ill-starred sailing, Gosling’s charter ran out, and the Mercury was forced to seek the nearest harbour: St George’s in Bermuda. The rest, as they say, is history – one that’s now more than 200 years long. It tells the tale of a family firm that was blown by the winds of destiny to the Caribbean isles and became their most prominent exporter of consumer goods. Today, Goslings remains the oldest company in Bermuda.

Its secret blend of select aged rum varieties wasn’t actually called Black Seal at first. It was initially sold as “Old Rum”, due in part to its unmistakable smoothness. Up until before the First World War, customers filled their own vessels with the rum they had purchased straight from the barrel. As Bermuda’s tourism industry continued to grow and Old Rum became more and more popular, Goslings began to sell its black gold in champagne bottles. It procured them from the officers’ mess of the British Army, which was stationed on Bermuda. The corks’ bottles were sealed good and tight with black wax, and before long, people were asking for the “black seal”. Many years would pass before this label was combined with the perfect image – a lustrous black seal balancing a cask on its nose, which remains the product’s endearing trademark to this day.

Goslings Black Seal Rum has received the platinum medal at the World Spirits Championships. At this event, which is the largest international spirits competition in North America, all tastings are overseen by the independent Beverage Testing Institute (BTI), Inc. Awarding it 96 of a possible 100 points, the jury called Goslings Black Seal Rum a “best buy” and granted it the distinction of “superlative”. Here are the judges in their own words: “Deep, assertive and highly flavoured. Very fragrant with herbal sharpness. At the finish there is a softness and elegance. A most complex, unusual spirit.”

Goslings Black Seal Rum - Profile:

Colour: Deep and dark

Aroma: Fruitcake, herbs and spices, caramel, banana, vanilla

Flavour: Rich and complex; well balanced with sweet, intense spices, braised fruits, and vanilla

Finish: Tangy, crisp, and sparkling