
Real McCoy 5 Year Old Barbados Rum
The Real McCoy · Foursquare Distillery
The Real McCoy 5 Year is a benchmark for what additive-free aged rum can be at an entry price. Distilled at Foursquare but branded and bottled by Bailey Pryor's estate, it prioritizes transparency and craft over flash. It's versatile enough for cocktails and honest enough for sipping — a rare combination at this price.
Nose
Clean vanilla and toffee lead, supported by a soft oak presence and dried coconut. Light tropical fruit — banana and a suggestion of citrus — adds brightness without heaviness.
Palate
Medium-bodied with a smooth, approachable entry. Caramel and vanilla dominate the early palate, while a gentle spice develops mid-palate. The molasses-based spirit shows its Bajan character through a clean, almost buttery texture with restrained oak tannins.
Finish
Medium with lingering vanilla, a touch of oak, and clean caramel sweetness.
- Base Ingredient
- Barbados molasses
- Distillation
- Blended from column and pot still distillates
- Country
- Barbados
Cocktail Suggestion
Bajan Daiquiri — 2 oz Real McCoy 5 Year Old · 1 oz fresh lime juice · 0.75 oz demerara syrup · Shake hard with ice, fine strain into chilled coupe, garnish with lime wheel.
Food Pairing
Jerk chicken with coconut rice and peas
Conceived by the late Bailey Pryor and distilled at Richard Seale's Foursquare Distillery in St. Philip, Barbados, this rum is aged exclusively in ex-bourbon barrels with no additives, sugar, or coloring.
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