Isautier Rhum Blanc Traditionnel

Isautier is a long-running Reunion distillery, and this Rhum Blanc Traditionnel is a molasses-based white rum, not an agricole, a distinction worth keeping clear since Reunion produces both. Made from molasses, it is best described as a traditional island white rather than a cane-juice spirit.

Distilled on a column still and bottled unaged at 49%, it leans bright and a touch rustic. The nose is fruity and floral with a vegetal edge and a sour note, while the palate brings more fruit, citrus, a green-olive saltiness and a saline streak. The finish stays fresh with fruit, citrus, floral notes and a sugarcane lift. The proof is felt, and the profile is lively rather than refined. This is an honest, fruity molasses white for mixing into a long drink or a punch as much as careful neat sipping, a workaday Reunion blanc with character.