Paranubes Oaxaca

Paranubes is an Oaxacan rum made from fresh sugar cane juice in the high mountains of southern Mexico, a cane juice spirit in the agricole tradition though it carries no such appellation. Spontaneous fermentation and a column still at low strength keep its raw, savoury cane character front and centre, here with a finishing rest in a tequila cask.

This is a bold, high ester white that leans savoury rather than sweet. The nose is vegetal and fresh with sugarcane and olive, the palate brings olive brine, tomato, grass and a stony minerality, and the finish stays earthy and mineral. It drinks closer to the savoury side of mezcal than to a sweet rum, an intense, wild profile that some find too savoury neat but that explodes in a Daiquiri with lime. At 54% it stays surprisingly smooth for its punch. One for adventurous drinkers who love clairin, savoury blancs or the earthy register of mezcal.