Old St. Croix (Riise) XO Reserve - 1888 Copenhagen Medal

Profile: Old St. Croix XO Reserve - 1888 Copenhagen Medal at a glance

• A.H. Riise becomes Old St. Croix!
• A.H. Riise is now Old St. Croix – same contents, new name
• 1888 Gold Medal – history you can pour
• Dedicated to the legendary award won in Copenhagen
• Danish tradition meets Caribbean heritage
• Allergen information: may contain traces of walnuts

Portrait: What makes the Old St. Croix XO Reserve - 1888 Copenhagen Medal special

Some medals hang on the wall. Some medals sit in a drawer. And then there is the Old St. Croix XO Reserve – 1888 Copenhagen Medal – a medal that clearly preferred to make itself at home inside the bottle.

Its story dates back to 1888 and the city of Copenhagen. At the Industrial, Agricultural, and Art Exhibition, Albert Heinrich Riise was awarded a gold medal for his "excellent product." It was an event that clearly left a lasting impression—as today’s bottling still commemorates that special award.

However, the story’s roots do not lie in Denmark alone. In the 19th century, Albert Heinrich Riise worked as a pharmacist on Saint Thomas, one of the U.S. Virgin Islands. There, he engaged in the production and trade of various Caribbean products, among other activities. Thus, Danish entrepreneurial spirit met Caribbean origins—a combination that continues to define the brand’s character to this day.

This brings us to a small detail that might cause some confusion: Old St. Croix used to be known as A.H. Riise. The name has changed, but the contents of this bottling remain the same. So, if you are already familiar with the earlier label, you aren't holding a complete stranger—rather, it is the same old friend with a new name tag.

The XO Reserve designation and the nod to the 1888 Copenhagen gold medal make this bottling a special part of the brand’s portfolio. In doing so, it unites two places that, at first glance, might not necessarily appear together on a single bottle: Denmark and the Caribbean.

Thus, the Old St. Croix XO Reserve – 1888 Copenhagen Medal tells a story involving an apothecary, an island, an exhibition, and an award—while simultaneously proving that a gold medal doesn't necessarily have to end up in a display case.

In short: the medal was awarded in 1888; today, we have the bottle. That is certainly a rather practical way of preserving history.

Tasting Notes: This is how the Old St. Croix XO Reserve - 1888 Copenhagen Medal tastes like

• Nose: Delicate notes of ripe citrus fruits open the bouquet, with a clear focus on oranges and mandarins. These are accompanied by sweet sugarcane syrup and a subtle hint of molasses.
• Palate: Balanced and creamy on the palate. The orange notes become even more pronounced, harmoniously blending with the sweetness of the sugarcane. As the tasting progresses, spicy nuances emerge, including hints of fresh tobacco leaves.
• Finish: The finish is medium-length and pleasantly rounded, with a balanced interplay of sweet and spicy notes.