Oxenham Craft Distillery Oaks & Âmes White 2010

Oxenham is a Mauritian distillery, and this Oaks et Ames white is a cane juice rum, agricole-style rather than AOC since it falls outside the French appellation. Distilled on a pot still from fresh-pressed sugar cane juice and bottled at 43%, it leans on a long, cool fermentation to build its fruit.

That slow ferment shows in a soft, fruity profile, with sugarcane, grass, papaya and tropical fruit on the nose giving way to a buttery, herbal and lightly sweet palate. The finish brings vanilla, citrus and an oily freshness. The added sugar status is not stated, and a natural sweetness is noted in tasting, so it is fairly described as a soft, fruit-forward white rather than a bone-dry one. An approachable, gently exotic take on cane juice rum for drinkers who enjoy fruit and texture over grassy bite, easy neat or in a cocktail.