The Real McCoy 12 Year Old Rum
The Real McCoy 12 Year Old Rum is a 40% ABV (80-proof), 750mL single blended rum from Foursquare Distillery in Barbados, tropically aged 12 full years in American oak ex-bourbon barrels. A blend of column-still and copper pot-still distillates from a single estate, it is made from blackstrap molasses with no added sugar, no added flavor, and no artificial color. Order online from Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA.
- ABV: 40% (80 proof) — confirm against bottle at apply
- Size: 750mL
- Age: 12 years, tropically aged in American oak ex-bourbon barrels (heavy char)
- Origin: Foursquare Distillery, Barbados — 4th-generation family distillery, master distiller Richard Seale
- Production: Single blended rum (column + pot still); blackstrap molasses; no sugar, flavor, or color added; small batch
The Prohibition Rum-Runner's Namesake
Bill McCoy was the Prohibition-era rum-runner famous for selling his cargo uncut — "the real McCoy." This Real McCoy 12 Year honors that code: twelve years of tropical aging at Foursquare, no sugar, no flavoring, no color added after the fact. Barbados's heat ages rum roughly twice as fast as Scotland's, so twelve tropical years carry real depth — buttery oak, dark chocolate, tobacco — in a clean 80-proof pour that reportedly scored 94 points with both Wine Enthusiast and the Beverage Testing Institute. Among rums, the honest one.
Tasting Notes
Buttery oak, earthy notes, dark chocolate, spice, orange zest, vanilla, and tobacco on the nose. Caramel, complex wood and spice, orange zest, and tobacco on the palate; a soft, structured, buttery finish with peppery spice and a hint of smoke.
How to Enjoy
Sip neat — this is the connoisseur's Barbados rum, and water or ice only hides the point. If it must mix, a rum old fashioned lets the twelve years show.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it really 12 years old?
Yes — tropically aged 12 full years in ex-bourbon barrels at Foursquare; tropical aging runs roughly twice as fast as continental aging.
Is sugar added?
No — the brand states no added sugar, flavor, or color, honoring Bill McCoy's uncut-cargo code.
Who makes it?
Foursquare Distillery in Barbados, the 4th-generation family distillery run by Richard Seale.
Where can I buy The Real McCoy 12 Year online?
The 750mL bottle is available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor, shipping from San Diego, CA.
Twelve tropical years, nothing added — secure The Real McCoy 12 Year Old Rum at Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA.