Rivière du Mât VSOP

A VSOP-style aged rum from Rivière du Mât on Reunion, a producer whose island sits in the French agricole tradition. Despite that heritage this expression is built on a molasses base rather than cane juice, column distilled and given around four years in ex-bourbon oak, then bottled at a soft 43%.

The nose is the most charming part, green apple and banana lifted by caramel and vanilla. The palate turns drier and more wood-driven, with pepper, baking spice and a leafy tobacco note taking over from the fruit. It is honestly more about oak than sweetness, and a touch more strength would have helped it carry that wood. Added sugar is not declared and it reads dry to lightly sweet, with the vanilla and caramel sitting at modest levels. A straightforward, spice-led aged rum for relaxed sipping rather than a showpiece.