Pure Cane Juice Rum, South Africa

Sculpted by fermentations that can last as long as three weeks, the rums produced by Robert Greaves, who founded the Mhoba distillery in 2011, are rich in esters. With an incredibly fresh expression and extraordinary power, this version labelled Umganu (marula fruit in siswati, similar to a plum tree) aged entirely in an ex-South African brandy cask unmistakably brings to mind a high-quality mezcal. The persistent notes of agave, lemon and almost peaty earth emanating from the empty glass long after the dried extracts are the perfect example.

TASTING NOTES

Nose : Rich, heady. A combination of vanilla, lime, jasmine, warm cane sugar, aniseed and star anise, the first nose is impressively voluptuous. Allowed to breathe, aromas of white florals (lilac, lily of the valley), green walnut and freshly cut grass fill the air.

Appearance : Bright Gold.

Palate : Svelte, lively. The lush (spearmint, verbena) and aniseed attack becomes medicinal (mustard poultice) and lemony. On the mid-palate, the spicy (ginger, clove), liquorice and honeyed (acacia) distillate brings energy to the flavour palette.

Overall : Long, sunny. The start of the finish is wonderfully mineral (slate, schist). Gradually, flavours of lime, lemon balm and fresh walnut refresh the milky (agave) and resinous (cane fibre, gentian root) end of the finish.