Isautier Rhum Ambré Barrik

Isautier is one of Reunion's oldest distilleries, and this Ambre Barrik is a young molasses-based rum rather than an agricole, given under a year in ex-bourbon oak to lend it colour and a light ambre character. Reunion sits outside the Martinique AOC framework, and this bottling leans on molasses rather than cane juice, arriving at 40%.

The short rest shows through clearly: the nose is sweet and caramelised but fairly closed and gentle, and the palate carries sweet caramel with allspice over the bite of young wood, the finish staying brown and caramel-laced. This is a soft, easygoing rum with a youthful edge, more of a mixer or an entry point than a deep sipper, the kind of bottle that does its best work in a long drink. Approached for what it is, a young, lightly aged molasses rum, it is pleasant and undemanding.