A Perfect Pour: Mount Gay Rum Returns to Charleston

Charleston/Mt. Pleasant, SC (2026 April 11) - There are certain elements of Charleston Race Week at Patriots Point that define the experience just as much as the racing itself.

Great competition. Charleston Harbor. And, of course—free rum drinks everyday after racing.

This year, we are proud to once again welcome Mount Gay Rum as an official sponsor of Race Week, bringing with it a legacy that is deeply intertwined with the sport of sailing.

Founded in Barbados, Mount Gay is widely recognized as the world’s oldest running rum distillery, an origin that carries a natural connection to maritime culture and life on the water. It is also a place with long-standing historical and maritime trade ties to Charleston, SC, a connection that feels right at home. For centuries, these two places have been linked by commerce, culture, and seafaring tradition, making this partnership all the more meaningful and appropriate.

For generations, sailors have celebrated victories, shared stories, and marked moments with a glass of the best rum in hand and Mount Gay remains at the center of that tradition.

In 2026, Charleston Race Week at Patriots Point, will keep that tradition alive.

From post-race gatherings to pre-racing celebrations, free-flowing Mount Gay Rum fuels Race Week. Whether it’s reconnecting dockside, raising a glass with competitors, or unwinding after a full day on the water, it’s all part of the experience that makes Charleston so unique.

And then, of course, there are the hats. Those iconic red hats.

The distinctive red Mount Gay regatta cap has become a staple of sailing culture. They are instantly recognizable, highly sought after, and worn proudly long after the racing ends. They are more than just gear; they’re a badge of participation in something memorable.

With regatta headquarters set aboard the USS Yorktown, Mount Gay Rum will be available at the after racing parties throughout the entire event—ready to serve and keep the energy flowing from the opening party to the final trophies.

Thank you Mount Gay — a Rum unlike any other!