CDI Savanna (Bottled for Denmark) 2004

Compagnie des Indes is a respected French bottler known for terroir led, natural single casks, and here it bottled an eighteen year old Savanna cane juice rum from Reunion for the Danish market, a 2004 vintage. Savanna makes several styles, and this is its agricole side, distilled on a column still and matured long in ex bourbon oak.

Eighteen years of ageing have built a firmly oak driven, dry profile. The nose mixes yellow fruit, caramel, menthol and green apple with a little solvent, the palate turns bitter and dry with menthol, barrel and brine, and the finish runs woody and astringent with clear tannins. There is dark chocolate, dried fig, orange and tobacco for those who give it air. Bottled at cask strength and unsweetened, this is a structured, demanding sipper that leans on wood and herbs rather than fruit, one for contemplative drinkers who like their aged agricole dry and serious.