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This rum was born in 2002 in the Seychelles and more precisely at the Trois Frères distillery in St André. A terroir rum since the cane that gives this rum grows on the granite soil of the island of Mahé, a cane supplied mainly by small producers who practice organic farming.

From locally grown cane, a long fermentation of 4 to 5 days then a first distillation in a copper still, a second and third in the two copper columns of the distillery, thus is born the base of Takamaka rums.

Price : between 50 and 60€ for a 70cl bottle and a classic 40°.

Age : 8 years, this is a blend of rums aged in Bourbon barrels. Rums distilled in column and still with a portion of their 'vesou' rum (agricultural, based on pure sugar cane juice).

The history of this distillery is quite recent since it was in 2002 that two brothers, Richard and Bernard d'Offray, decided to embark on this adventure with the wish to perpetuate a recipe from their grandfather: Takamaka Bay dark rum was born (more of a kind of spiced rum for us Europeans). Today the range of products has expanded, including white rum 'vesou' and molasses, a coconut rum, dark rum and this 8-year-old rum, a premium product of the brand.

The rum has a very classy golden color tending towards bronze, the kind that reflects the sun and makes passers-by turn around. At work, a crown of fine droplets forms, which fall successively and moderately towards the bottom of the glass.

The nose of this 8-year-old rum is very fresh and dominated by citrus fruits: lemon but especially orange, sometimes in the form of zest, sometimes in the form of marmalade, more gourmet and pastry-like. A gourmet nose that quickly gives way to coconut for a profile marked by fruit and exoticism. But staying on this ground could quickly become dangerous and especially too easy: it is at this moment that peppery notes appear, quite present and even bringing out the alcohol which stings the nose slightly, but without burning.

Throughout, a veil of vanilla and almond makes the whole thing very seductive but without going overboard: it is well controlled and serves the rum more than anything else, so it is definitely welcome here. The balance is rather very subtle, between the gourmet notes of fruit and the warm spices that stand out a little more when resting, as if slightly caramelized, with in particular cloves and ginger, but also liquorice and chocolate.

On the palate, the attack is silky and rather lively, on marmalade, vanilla and always this pepper which brings warmth to the palate and which decidedly structures the rum and the entire tasting on its own. He is the master on board but does not overdo it, he rightly places all the actors of the tasting like a director distributes the roles in a film, with tact and intelligence, all in subtlety. The coconut is also present on the palate, as is the almond paste to remind us of the gourmet side already perceived on the nose.

A fairly young and fiery rum for an 8-year-old, with that little something that structures it and makes it more mature. We feel that the youth is still there and that it resists the onslaught of time, the weight of age. We are surely at a turning point in its history that is rather pleasant to witness, but on the other hand we would quite like to see the rest, to see it mellowed out with a few more years.

The finish is moderately long and rather dry in the mouth. We might expect to perceive only spices but once again we are surprised by a beautiful balance between the fruits (rather dry on this finish) and the spices, a finish that is both gourmand and warm with a light and vanilla woodiness, almost chocolatey. The empty glass delivers scents of citrus fruits, orange and even a silkier scent of ripe apricot.

Overall a pleasant rum that we like to come back to, and which will particularly please whisky lovers who are new to rum as the presence of the barrel is delicate and brings personality to the spirit. A rum that does its job well and could serve as a nice base for cocktails, and which does not have much press but deserves to be better known. Rating: 77

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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