Swell de Spirits Savanna HERRLINE No. 2 (Selected by Swell de Spirits) TH1 2017

Selected by Swell de Spirits as the second in its Herrline series, this is an 8 year old Savanna from Reunion, drawn from a 2017 vintage and bottled at cask strength, 59.5%, without added sugar. The base is molasses rather than cane juice, distilled on a column still, and the result reads as a slightly more rounded, blended interpretation of the distillery's high ester signature.

The aromatics lead with strawberry chewing gum, ripe papaya and a wash of overripe tropical fruit, joined by mint, olive and a light wood frame. On the palate the fruit stays huge while the spirit feels clean and well integrated, the alcohol notably restrained for the strength, with peaches and warm spice carrying into the finish. It rewards slow sipping and side by side tasting, the kind of expressive funk reference that holds attention without tipping into harshness.