Review #1500; Rum #799

This is a bottling of rum done by the Savanna distillery for RumX. This is a single cask of Grand Arôme marque rum from Savanna, which is one of their higher ester production styles. This rum is distilled from molasses and aged for 17 years at Savanna in tropical conditions first in ex-Cognac and then ex-Armagnac casks. It was then bottled at cask strength with no additives for a RumX single cask release.

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Distillery: Savanna

Bottler: Savanna

Region: Réunion

Still: Column

ABV: 68.7%

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Nose: Orange Marmalade, Star Anise, Sweaty Socks, Brine, Lemon Curd, Black Tea, Ginger, Plum, Figs, Cough Syrup

Palate: Thick oily mouthfeel, Orange Marmalade, star Anise, Sweaty Sock, Lemon Curd, Black Tea, Ginger, Plum, Figs, Cherry Cough Syrup

Finish: Long Finish, Figs, Cherry Cough Syrup, Orange Marmalade, Star Anise, Sweaty Sock

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These fully tropically aged Grand Arômes are always incredible for me and this one really nails it. It has some nice cherry cough syrup notes, a bit of spices and black tea, but its full of such rich fruit that its really an incredible bottling. Kudos to the RumX crew for getting Savanna to give up a cask as incredible as this, I wish Savanna had more stock or sold more of them.

Final Score: 96

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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.