Mount Gay
The history of Barbados is deeply linked to that of Mount Gay.
Sir John Gay Alleyne was a multi-talented notable from Saint James, whose talents included politics and business. He ran his friend John Sober's distillery, Mount Gilboa Plantation/Distilleries, from 1747, and sat for many years in the Barbados Parliament between 1757 and 1779.
His skilful management style made him a household name, with a particular emphasis on the island's sluggish rum trade. At the time, only a few settlers produced rum, but the quality was mediocre. This beverage, known as "Kill-Devil", is considered the ancestor of modern rum. The distillery, founded in 1703, did not yet have the know-how that would propel it to world renown. It was Sir John Gay Alleyne who gave it its letters of nobility.
The rum produced by Mount Gilboa Plantation was a great success, exporting to Europe and North America alike. It was the start of a successful era that has never waned. When Sir John Gay Alleyne passed away in 1801, John Sober renamed his distillery Mount Gay, in tribute to his friend's loyal service.
Sir John Gay Alleyne left his mark on his era, with his philanthropy and pioneering stance against slavery. Today, he is considered one of Barbados' greatest heroes, and his name is forever associated with a renowned distillery. Read less
