Review by: The Auditor
This rum comes to us from The Duchess independent bottler sources from the Savanna distillery located on La Reunion. This Rhum Agricole was distilled from fresh pressed sugarcane and aged for 19 years before being bottled at cask strength with no additives.
Distillery: Savanna
Bottler: The Duchess
Region: La Reunion
Still: Column
ABV: 67.2%. Cask strength.
Age: 19 years. Distilled in 2003. Bottled in 2022.
Cask type: (French Oak?), 16 years in Reunion, 3 year in Europe.
Price: €133.00
Color: Natural Color. Non-chill-filtered.
Nose: Big bold oak, grapes, black pepper, nutmeg, black tea, mint, star Anise, Orange Zest.
Palate: Thick oily mouthfeel, nutmeg, black pepper, star anise, black tea, orange zest, figs, industrial, raspberry
Finish: Long finish, black pepper, nutmeg, star anise, black tea, orange zest, lemon peel, raspberry
Conclusion: An excellent rhum from Reunion. This is the oldest agricole I have had to date and it is packed with flavor and so well balanced. Fruits, spices, a heavy star anise/cherry cough syrup evokes a bit of Vendome St. Lucia for me. Drinks well below proof as well, Savanna can really do no wrong.
Final Score: 91
Scoring Legend:
- 95-100: As good as it gets. Jaw-dropping, eye-widening, unforgettable whisky.
- 90-94: Sublime, a personal favorite in its category.
- 85-89: Excellent, a standout dram.
- 80-84: Quite good. Quality stuff.
- 75-79: Decent whisky worth tasting.
- 70-74: Meh. It’s definitely drinkable, but it can do better.
- 60-69: Not so good. I might not turn down a glass if I needed a drink.
- 50-59: Save it for mixing.
- 0-49: Blech.
Malt Runners 