MHOBA Strand 101

MHOBA Strand 101 is an agricole-style single cask from MHOBA in South Africa, made from fresh sugar-cane juice rather than molasses. South Africa sits well outside the protected agricole zone, so this is cane-juice rum in spirit, a small-producer single cask bottled unsweetened at cask strength.

The fresh-cane base leans funky and fruity, with esters well to the fore. The nose carries fruit, pineapple and a clear glue and ester lift, the palate turns woody and warm with vanilla and pepper, and the finish runs to burnt sugar, butterscotch and a buttery edge. Beneath the glue there is plenty of dark fruit, with grassy spice giving way to a sweeter, floral close. At 50.5% it is punchy and characterful, an estery cane-juice rum from an emerging origin that will appeal to drinkers who enjoy a fruity, funky white with real personality.