Grays New Grove Inception 2004

Grays distils New Grove in Mauritius, an island whose rum sits outside the agricole appellation, and this Inception is a 2004 bottling aged a full twenty one years. Made from molasses and bottled unsweetened at a composed 50%, it represents the older, more contemplative end of the Mauritian range rather than the high octane cask strength style.

Cognac cask ageing lends a refined polish, with minty freshness and earthiness threading through ripe yellow fruit of peach, mango and citrus, while elegant oak, gentle spice and a touch of tannin frame the long finish. Two decades have built genuine depth and balance, the wood and strength sitting comfortably together so nothing feels overdone. At 50% it is a relaxed but serious sipper, prized for poise and character rather than raw power, and a fine illustration of what extended ageing and a cognac cask can draw from a Mauritian distillate.