Grays Mauricia Heritage

Grays bottles this Mauricia Heritage from fresh sugar cane juice, an agricole-style rum from Mauritius rather than an AOC bottling, so it earns the cane juice description without the protected French-island label. Three years in ex-bourbon casks gives it a touch of structure at a friendly 45%.

The nose is fresh and green, grass and apple lifted by caramel and a clear grape note that recalls grappa or Calvados. The palate turns dry and spicy with a vegetal edge and that same grape-spirit character, finishing dry, woody and faintly bitter. This is a light, relaxed take on cane juice rum rather than a deep or funky one, leaning closer to a fruity grape eau de vie in places. It works neat or in a simple highball as a solid daily sipper that introduces Mauritian style without making demands.