Savanna Rhum Agricole Créol 52 2019

Savanna on Reunion makes several rum families, and this Rhum Agricole Creol 52 is the cane-juice expression, distilled from fresh sugarcane juice on a Savalle still, a metal multi-column setup that lends a versatile, medium body. The 2019 is a single cask bottled at 52%, an unaged blanc that shows Reunion's take on agricole as something distinct from Martinique or Guadeloupe.

The nose runs vegetal and grassy with sugarcane and a green olive note that becomes a signature here. The palate keeps that olive and cane character alongside lime and a savoury, slightly saline edge, the texture fresh and oily, the finish vegetal, briny and dry. It is the green-olive-and-salt side of agricole rather than the floral one, original and a touch wild. Neat it shows that character clearly, and it makes a distinctive Ti' Punch or citrusy long drink where the saline note plays well.