Emperor Private Collection Château Pape Clément

Emperor is a Mauritian brand, and this Private Collection finished in a Château Pape Clément cask is its molasses based rum, a twelve year old at a gentle 42%. It is best read as an easy, approachable sipper rather than a dry, intense one, comparable to smooth, lightly sweet rums in feel even if it carries a touch more wood and character.

Distilled from molasses and matured in ex bourbon wood before a wine cask finish, it leans soft and rounded. The nose runs vanilla, caramel, toffee and a fruity lift, the palate turns sweet with coffee, roasted notes and vanilla, and the finish stays on vanilla, cream toffee and brown sugar. Tasters note a faint agricole like character alongside the molasses sweetness, but the overall read is a soft, slightly sweet daily sipper that drinks well above its modest strength.