Welcome to Talking Points , a series that looks at what makes certain products worth talking about, brought to you by Gear Patrol Studios . Every year, festive cocktails and splurge-worthy bottles make their way onto holiday bar carts across the country. This year, why not try something a little smoother, richer and all-around more exciting? That’s right, we’re talking about rum. But not just any rum — Mount Gay, the world’s oldest running rum distillery from Barbados. Its spirits are honed by its century-old expertise, island roots, art of distilling and tropical climate. The result? A portfolio brimming with complex flavors and fantastic rums. The Backstory Mount Gay Rum: The World’s Oldest Running Rum Distillery With time comes experience, and for Mount Gay, that couldn’t be truer. The distilling and blending processes have been developed carefully by experts in the field. Mount Gay uses the flavors found in each of its unique expressions to tell a longer, winding story. Nestled within the brand’s expansive portfolio, fans will find spirits that can impress everyone from first-time sippers to experienced pros. Its latest limited-edition addition to its portfolio, Single Estate Series, is the epitome of Barbados rum: a one-of-a-kind, 100% terroir driven expression that makes the perfect gift for the aficionado or collector. Meanwhile, Eclipse, the brand's heritage blend, with its crisp and aromatic style, can add a special touch to your favorite cocktail, time and time again. But for those who are looking for the perfect spirit that sits somewhere right in between, there’s nothing better than the XO. The Gist What Makes Mount Gay’s XO a Perfect Rum? To create this liquid, the Master Blender Trudiann Branker, matures the rum in ex-American whiskey, bourbon and Cognac casks for five to 17 years. This maturation process that uses three different types of casks, gives way to a liquid that offers notes of salted caramel, baked fig, clove and dark chocolate — it’s a gorgeous sipper you can enjoy straight, or stir into a cocktail. In fact, if you want to elevate your serve, consider pouring it into your glass over a coconut water ice cube. As the cube melts into the blend, it will chill the liquid, and soften the spicy, fruity rum. But if that’s not enough, consider using Mount Gay XO to craft the perfect XO and Espresso Tonic. A riff on the popular Espresso Martini, this recipe is simple, and easy to build: fill a tall glass with ice and then pour in 1.5 ounces of Mount Gay XO, 0.25 ounces of coffee liqueur, three ounces of tonic water and two dashes of orange bitters. Garnish the drink with an orange peel — and voilà — it’s ready to serve. Our POV This Year, Gift, Serve and Sip Mount Gay XO When it comes time to build your holiday bar cart, or stir up a late-night drink by the fire, you’ll be happy to have Mount Gay XO at hand. It’s built for sipping, but versatile enough to help you assemble an interesting drink for many nights to come. So bring home this well-rounded rum and get ready to impress your family and friends. There’s sure to be enough of this round and complex liquid to go around — but you might find sharing to be a little more difficult than you anticipated. Price: $65 SHOP NOW