Danish company Rom De Luxe produced this bottling of molasses rum from the tropical island of La Réunion.
C’est dans une distillerie gardée secrète que la mélasse a été fermentée pendant une très longue période de près de 15 jours. Cela a eu pour effet de délivrer un rhum très aromatique dit « grand arôme », avec une teneur en substances volatiles d’au moins 500 grammes par hectolitre d’alcool pur. La distillation a été réalisée dans une colonne en cuivre Savalle en 2013. La rhum a ensuite été rapatrié en Europe pour passer 8 années en fûts de chêne blanc américain ayant préalablement contenu du vin rouge.
Barrel number 9 delivered a total of 301 bottles in November 2021.
Nico's tasting notes
The nose is above all driven by the oak barrel, much more than by the grand aroma style. In fact, there's no olive or exotic fruit here, just a light, roasted ambience perfumed with caramel and sweet spices.
Aeration allows a small fruit and vanilla syrup to swell, spilling over our heavily toasted wood. Lightness is the order of the day, while a slight metallic edge is felt as the syrup recedes.
The palate is rather round, and is balanced by a metallic, roasted side that serves to rinse away any excess sweetness. Molasses and dark fruit tannins set the same tone, with rather dark, slightly bitter notes.
The finish is light, gently spicy and again rather toasty.
"A rather light rum that will certainly disconcert lovers of great aromas...".
In comparison, the Rom De Luxe Réunion Grand Arôme barrel #8 55.6° is quite similar, even if it has a more marked vegetal side (marc, undergrowth), as well as a more pronounced sweetness. This barrel #9 offers a stronger, toasted and coppery character. In both cases, we are really very far from the style that we usually attribute to great aroma.
