

Episode 303 - The Official Rum of Leisure with Malcolm Gosling Jr.
Sep 25, 2025
Join Malcolm Gosling Jr., an eighth-generation member of the Gosling's Rum family, as he shares captivating tales from Bermuda's rum legacy. Discover how a ship charter mishap sparked the family's business and learn about the intriguing origins of Black Seal Rum. Malcolm reveals the bartender legend behind the Dark ‘N Stormy cocktail and highlights their unique aging project aboard a cargo ship. From quirky family traditions to camaraderie-infused branding as 'The Official Rum of Leisure,' this conversation offers a delightful plunge into rum culture.
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Accidental Founding In Bermuda
- James Gosling was a 19-year-old sent alone from England to Virginia who missed his destination and was dropped at Bermuda with a boatload of liquor.
- He opened a shop there within 48 hours and launched the family's liquor business that became Gosling's Rum.
Blending+Bermuda Creates Unique Rum Profile
- Gosling's identity grew from blending sourced molasses rums rather than distilling on-island, shaping a distinct British-style profile.
- Bermuda's climate and sea-air aging further differentiate their blends from typical Caribbean rums.
Black Wax Bottles Became Black Seal
- Gosling reused Champagne bottles from British Navy deliveries and resealed them with black wax to sell rum by the bottle.
- Locals called that product 'Black Seal' and the company later formalized the seal logo in 1950.