Manutea Rhum vieux Single cask Banyuls

Manutea distils on the island of Tahiti in French Polynesia, and this aged single cask sees a finishing period in Banyuls casks, the sweet fortified red wine of southern France, bottled at 44%. The wine influence is central to its appeal, bringing candied fruit, honey and a dark orchard sweetness, with sour cherry, dates and plum filling out the palate.

Underneath the Banyuls dressing the cane spirit still shows, a green, grassy note and a touch of leather and polish hinting at its origin, and the finish carries sugarcane, gentle sweetness and a fresh lift. The soft sweetness here comes largely from the wine cask rather than heavy dosage, giving a rounded, approachable character. A pleasant, fruit forward bottling for drinkers curious about Polynesian rum and Banyuls finishes, with the sense that longer ageing could lend it more depth in future.