Review by: Raygun

Another unaged rum from The Auditor. Previous experiences in this category have not gone so well, white agricole in particular. Add in some baijiu and mezcal, and unaged spirits have largely not been my thing. So I approached this with some trepidation, but it turned out surprisingly well. Reviewed from a sample, initially tasted blind. Rested about 15 minutes.

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Distillery: Savanna

Bottler: Habitation Velier

Region/style: Reunion molasses pot still rum

ABV: 61.5%  

Age: NA

Cask type: NA

Color: Clear as water

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Nose: Milder than previous unaged rums, without the plastic and paint fumes. Coconut, clay, Scotch tape (OK, maybe a little plastic), and lime. Not oceany, but reminds me of a sandy beach.   

Palate: Nicely fruity. Coconut, pineapple, guava, orange, and lime. Sweet and tart like fruit candies. A splash of cream.  Getting a bit of savoriness from somewhere, too. Grilled scallops, maybe. Still has that clay-like flavor. An effect of some esters I suppose.  

Finish: Similar fruitiness as the palate, both tropical and citrusy. Something like chewing gum when the flavor’s gone, slightly rubbery. A little clay. Has a nice tart zing to it. 

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Conclusion: Turned out to be a nice surprise. I did not care for the unaged agricole, but this is an entirely different beast, without the off-putting chemical aspects. The clay was an interesting addition, but this was mostly about the fruity flavors. Drank very easily for 61%. I will have to reconsider my position on unaged spirits. There are some good ones.

Score: 83

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Scoring Legend:

• 95-100: As good as it gets. Jaw-dropping, eye-widening, unforgettable.
• 90-94: Sublime, a personal favorite in its category.
• 85-89: Excellent, a standout dram.
• 80-84: Quite good. Quality stuff.
• 75-79: Decent rum 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.