🥃 Old Monk
Indian dark blended rum released in December 1954; made by Mohan Meakin in Ghaziabad; XXX is 42.8% ABV.
If you are looking for an Indian dark rum, Old Monk is the best-known name on the shelf. Mohan Meakin released it in December 1954. It is a vatted (blended) molasses rum matured in oak barrels, at 42.8% ABV. It is made at Mohan Nagar, in the city of Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh. The recipe was created by Ved Rattan Mohan.
According to sources, the official first tasting took place on 19 December 1954. Mohan Meakin traces its history to Edward Dyer's brewery in Kasauli, founded in 1855, and is now a public company. The producer does not run traditional advertising campaigns for the brand.
Classic XXX is made from molasses, matured for at least seven years in oak and then blended. The older Supreme version is aged for 12 years. Reviewers note vanilla in the flavour; the rum is sometimes described as "spiced", but the producer does not disclose the recipe, so we do not claim that spices or flavourings are added.
It is not known exactly how Old Monk is classified in the EU, as rum or as a spirit drink; our sources give no confirmation, so we leave the question open.
Why this matters to you. Old Monk is a strong drink: 42.8% ABV is higher than many rums. If you need a rum for a recipe, check the product category on the label and the country of sale. In non-Indian markets the name and strength may differ. The WHO reminds us: there is no safe amount of alcohol.
Facts
| Year founded | December 1954; first official tasting on 19 December 1954 (Ved Rattan Mohan) |
|---|---|
| Raw material | molasses; at least 7 years in oak (XXX), then blended |
| Cask type | oak barrels; the producer does not disclose the exact type |
| Minimum maturation | 7 years (XXX); 12 years (Supreme) |
| Alcohol (% vol.) | 42.8% ABV (XXX) |
How it connects to Spirits
🥃 Old Monk → kind of → 🌴 Rum and sugarcane spirits → kind of → 🥃 Spirits
Links
- Packed in
- 🍷 Oak barrel
- Made from
- 🥃 Sugar cane and molasses
- What it contains
- 🍬 Sugar, 🍷 Ethanol
- What it affects
- 🍷 Alcohol and health, 🍷 Drunk driving
- Part of
- 🌴 Rum and sugarcane spirits, 🥃 Rum
- Similar and different
- 🥃 Captain Morgan, 🥃 Captain Morgan, 🥃 Ron Zacapa, 🥃 Bacardi 151, 🥃 Havana Club, 🥃 Havana Club, 🥃 Tanduay, 🥃 Tanduay, 🥃 McDowell's No.1
Frequently asked questions
Is Old Monk a rum or a brandy?
It is a rum: a blended dark molasses rum, not a brandy.
What ABV is Old Monk, and is it the same everywhere?
Old Monk XXX is 42.8% ABV. In non-Indian markets the name and strength may differ, so check the label of the bottle you are buying.
How long is Old Monk aged?
XXX is aged for at least 7 years in oak and then blended; the Supreme version is aged for 12 years.
Where is Old Monk made, and who created it?
At Mohan Nagar, in Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh, India, by Mohan Meakin. The recipe was created by Ved Rattan Mohan; the first official tasting was on 19 December 1954.
Is Old Monk a spiced rum?
It is sometimes described that way and reviewers note vanilla, but the producer does not disclose the recipe, so it cannot be said that spices or flavourings are added.
What to read next
- 🍷 Alcohol and health — Alcohol in any drink is harmful in large amounts, and the risks grow with the quantity.
- 🍷 Ethanol — The alcohol formed during fermentation that makes you drunk.
- 🍬 Sugar — Sucrose added to condensed milk, ice cream and sweet yogurts; WHO advises that free sugars supply less than 10% of daily energy.
- 🥃 Captain Morgan — Captain Morgan is a Diageo rum brand launched in 1982. Its flagship is the spiced Original Spiced Gold, made with vanilla, natural flavours and spice; the range also has White Rum and an alcohol-free 0.0%.
- 🍷 Drunk driving — Never drive after drinking wine: alcohol slows your reactions.
Similar
🥃 Captain Morgan · 🥃 Havana Club · 🥃 Stroh · 🥃 Božkov · 🥃 Bacardi 151 · 🥃 Tanduay
⚠️ Spirit drinks contain alcohol and are for adults only. Alcohol harms health. Do not drink during pregnancy or before driving; check the label for ingredients and possible allergens.
What it includes
Sources
- Wikidata: Old Monk (Q762996; inception 1954; product of Mohan Meakin; rum)
- Regulation (EU) 2019/787 on spirit drinks (OJ L 130, 17.5.2019), Art. 2 and Annex I
- WHO/Europe: No level of alcohol consumption is safe for our health (04.01.2023)