Dzama XV Rhum Vieux 1995

Dzama XV Rhum Vieux is an aged expression from the Dzama distillery on the Madagascan island of Nosy Be, drawn from a 1995 vintage and carrying fifteen years of age. Madagascar's rums remain something of a hidden corner of the category, and this older release shows the gentler, more refined side of the island's output.

Distilled from molasses and matured in ex-bourbon casks, it was bottled at 45%. The nose offers vanilla, nutmeg, barrel and tropical fruit, while the palate stays soft and fruity with vanilla and candied notes, leading into a finish of ripe fruit, oak and a roasted edge. Some tasters catch a mild agricole grassiness and a faint smoky, whisky like touch alongside the sweetness. Mild, mellow and easy to enjoy, it is a relaxed aged sipper for those curious about Madagascan rum and happy with a soft, fruit and vanilla led style.