Labourdonnais XO (Edition Sep 2021)

Labourdonnais XO is an agricole-style single cask from the Labourdonnais distillery in Mauritius, made from fresh sugar-cane juice rather than molasses. Mauritius lies outside the protected agricole appellation, so this is cane-juice rum in spirit, given six years in ex-bourbon oak and bottled at a gentle, approachable 42%.

The profile leans light and rounded, with a naturally sweet impression even without confirmed dosage. The nose carries citrus, vegetal and fresh agricole notes, the palate turns to honey, vanilla, citrus and a vegetal edge, and the finish runs herbal and woody with tobacco. At 42% it is soft and easy rather than punchy, with the cane-juice character present but mild. This is a relaxed bridge bottle for anyone curious about Mauritian cane juice without big funk or heat, well suited as a gentle everyday sipper.