Saint Aubin VSOP

Saint Aubin VSOP is an agricole-style rum from the Saint Aubin estate in Mauritius, made from fresh sugar-cane juice rather than molasses. Mauritius lies outside the protected agricole appellation, so this is cane-juice rum in spirit, here distilled on a pot still, given four years in ex-bourbon oak and bottled at an approachable 42%.

The pot still lends a little extra weight to the cane character, while ex-bourbon ageing adds a soft vanilla layer. Expect a flowery, fruity and vegetal nose, a palate of sugarcane, vanilla and licorice with a slightly volatile edge, and a fairly short, peppery, sometimes astringent finish. It takes time to open and shed that astringency, after which the green vegetal cane and exotic wood notes come through. At 42% it is a relaxed, lighter introduction to Mauritian cane juice, best given patience in the glass.