Saint Aubin Rhum Vanille Extra Premium

Saint Aubin is a Mauritian estate distillery, and this Rhum Vanille is a flavoured arrange rather than a straight rum, made by steeping vanilla grown on the property into a cane-juice spirit distilled on a pot still. It is an honest vanilla rum, sweet by design, and the estate's hand shows in the quality of the infusion.

The nose is gently vanilla-led with a mild, candied sweetness over the sugarcane, and the palate follows suit: round, sweet and soft, the vanilla woven through a clear cane base rather than sitting on top as syrup. The finish is short and cane-driven. At 40% it drinks easy and warm, and it does not need to be served cold to show well. This is a sweetened sipper and after-dinner pour for those who like genuine vanilla character, not a dry agricole, and it is comfortable in that role.