the island of beautiful waters

Karukera is a rum apart, full of character and the 1999 and 200 vintages are already sure values ​​in their catalog. This Double Maturation rum is a limited series and a new expression of the know-how of their cellar master, who definitely does his job with heart and seriousness. 

Price : 110/120€ for a 70cl bottle at 44.1° in a limited edition of 2056 bottles (from 5 barrels).

Age : Distilled in 2004 and bottled 8 years later in 2012; the rum was aged in two stages: in Bourbon barrels for 6 years then 2 years in Cognac barrels (double maturation). Bottled at natural strength and without chill filtration.

Karukera is an iconic brand from the 70s, brought up to date (and even resurrected) by François Longueteau and Grégoire Hayot; it can be considered today as the youngest brand, relaunched by the oldest distillery on the island. All of the rum is distilled from cane grown on site (let's mention the blue cane in the case of the rum that brings us here).

The rum tasted here comes from cask #230 which has an alcohol content of 44.1°. The alcohol content may vary significantly depending on the cask used (for example cask #275 has an alcohol content of 44.7°).

The rum has a beautiful coppery color that already makes your mouth water , and beautiful bronze/orange reflections. When stirred, a thick crown forms and seems to be suspended, then thickens for a few seconds before giving way to numerous droplets, still thick, which fall nonchalantly.

The nose is fine and charming , giving off a sweet smell of fruits lightly candied in alcohol, a shy and spicy rancio like any self-respecting Karukera (nutmeg, cumin, clove). A classy woodiness and vegetal notes of cane and moss very present for a resolutely enchanting nose that opens up with even more fruits, full of sun and ready to crush at the slightest olfactory pressure: pear, peach, orange and a gourmet smell of almond paste, and grilled/roasted notes (empyreumatic) that arrive with rest.

The impression of passing from a small narrow path in the undergrowth to the lushness of a cane field where fruits grow here and there whose exoticism caresses your nostrils. The second phase of aging in Cognac barrels brings finesse to the rum, making it more complex and rich.

On the palate, the entry is creamy, the cane and the vegetal side are well and truly present and quickly plunge us back into reverie with in addition a more perfumed side, almost floral before seeing our dear spices appear again, always more intense and warm (peppery) as well as the fruits… and what fruits! it is the waltz of fruits and creaminess on the palate, recalling the delights of the nose with always these exotic fruits, these citrus fruits, this pear, it is so sweet on the palate, so creamy, gourmet but poignant (spices and woody liquorice), it makes you travel and the sensations follow one another: a caress a slap, a caress a slap, it is tough love but it does much more good than harm.

Very nice length for the finale, intense and warm without forgetting to be greedy ; a heady death, rather green at the start it evolves towards more milky roundness; We always find the spicy side with this impression of having it everywhere in the mouth, but always with this cane and these fruits for more sensuality, the almond paste of the nose also returns for our greatest pleasure. A beautiful persistence in the mouth which evokes vetiver (warm, woody, green, smoky, earthy smell), and an empty glass which sings spices and milk chocolate.

Here is another tour de force from Karukera. A very fine, smooth and balanced rum, complex, in short a hyper interesting, succulent and wonderfully well executed result. From their vintage rums to this double maturation rum, Karukera has never disappointed me… while waiting for the Christophe Colomb vintage and their next releases… Rating: 82

To help you (and me) find your way around, regarding the notes:

90 and + : exceptional and unique rum, it is the best of the best
between 85 and 89 : highly recommended rum, with that little something that makes the difference
between 80 and 84 : recommendable rum
75-79 POINTS : above average
70-74 POINTS : in the low average
less than 70 : not very good

Review courtesy of DuRhum.com.

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