Trudiann Branker is taking over from Allen Smith as master blender for Barbadian rum Mount Gay.
Considered the “guardians” of the brand’s heritage, the master blenders are tasked with watching over hundreds of casks of ageing rums, hand selecting each one to create new Mount Gay blends.
Allen has been working with Mount Gay for over 25 years, and was responsible for the creation of expressions such as Mount Gay 1703 Master Select and Mount Gay XO.
He is now imparting his knowledge, passion and success to Trudiann, who presents the first female master blender in Mount Gay’s history.
A graduate of The Siebel Institute and the Institute of Brewing and Distilling, Trudiann possesses a strong academic background to which she adds over eleven years working in the spirits industry.
She joined Mount Gay in 2014 as a quality assurance manager, and has worked under the apprenticeship of Allen for five years.
Allen said: “For 25 years, I have always been dedicated to serving Mount Gay by ensuring the excellence of our rums to the highest standard.
“For a master blender, there is nothing more pleasing than to see your work perpetuated by somebody that you have trained and familiarised with the techniques and secrets which have shaped our success.
“I am thrilled for Trudiann to take over from me to ensure the future of our incomparable Mount Gay rum.”
Trudiann added: “It is an honour for me to follow in Allen’s footsteps. It is from him that I learnt the tremendous savoir-faire which allows us to create one of the best rums in the world every day.
“It is with great pride that I become Mount Gay’s master blender, and I humbly join this prestigious line to keep Mount Gay going, to create new treasures, expand our rums and invent new blends.”
