You will find the picturesque Rhumerie de Chamarel in the fertile southwest of Mauritius, perched 300 metres above sea level in a valley influenced by its own microclimate. This family-run distillery is amid fields of sugarcane specially selected and grown for use in the production of Chamarel rums. Time is of the essence in the production of this sugarcane juice rum – the process requires distilling the juice as quickly as possible after it’s crushed out of the cane in order to preserve its freshness and aroma, which is why at Chamarel you’ll find heavy equipment located in the middle of the plantation, with vats right next to the grinding machinery. The harvest is done by hand, without ever burning the crops, and extends from July to December.

Chamarel produces two very distinct styles of rum: premium rum using continuous distillation in a barbet column, and double-distilled rum using discontinuous distillation in a pot still.

Aged in French Oak casks for at least six years to create Chamarel’s famous XO, which consists of approximately 70% column still and 30% pot still, this rum was taken one step further with an additional four and a half years of ageing in an ex-Armagnac cask.

Tropical Aging > 8 Years / Highveld Aging > 2 Years

Tasting Notes

Profile: Buttery baked fruits.

Colour: Burnt Umber.

Nose: Hot Buttery crumpets. Freshly baked scones with cream and some fruity apricot or marmalade jam. Zesty, deep and boozy, fig preserve, tobacco, brandy snaps, dried apricots, cinnamon and nutmeg.

Palate: A medley of deep rich boozy fruits, lots of spice (hot toddy style), guava roll and some Cape made white muscadel. Thick buttery mouthfeel that makes one want to hold onto it a little longer before swallowing.

Finish: Long, golden delicious granola bars, grape-y, very juicy and then eventually slightly drying. Perfectly balanced with lots of Armagnac nostalgia!