Kill Devil 2014

Kill Devil is the rum line from Scottish whisky house Hunter Laing, and this 2014 is a single cask from Mauritius bottled at full strength, 51.3% and natural in the whisky-house tradition of no additives and no chill filtration. Unlike much of the island's agricole output, this one is made from molasses, then aged for seven years before bottling.

Matured in ex-bourbon oak and shipped to cooler European warehousing for its later years, it leans clean and bright rather than heavy. The defining note is fruit, a basket of crisp apple, ripe guava and juicy pear running right across nose and palate. It sidesteps the earthy, vegetal profile many associate with Mauritius in favour of something altogether more orchard fresh. If fruit forward is your preference it delivers in spades, though those hunting Mauritian funk will find this a gentler, brighter take.