Takamaka Le Clos Ex Pineau des Charentes

Le Clos Ex Pineau des Charentes is part of Takamaka’s limited Le Clos Series, produced at Trois Frères Distillery on Mahé in the Seychelles. It is a pot still distilled sugarcane juice rum, bottled at 54.8% ABV to retain concentration and texture. The release is matured for 3 years in new French oak and then finished in casks that previously held White Pineau des Charentes, building a profile where oak structure and wine cask complexity sit tightly integrated.

The maturation approach is deliberately technical. New French oak, especially at medium toast, contributes higher tannin structure, clove like spice, and toasted lignin breakdown products that read as vanilla, cocoa and roasted wood. The Pineau des Charentes finish adds a second layer: oxidatively developed fruit notes and a subtle vinous lift, coming from residual wine compounds bound into the seasoned wood. At this strength, ethanol carries those oak and wine derived aromatics efficiently, while the spirit’s natural congeners provide the grassy, cane led backbone underneath.

On the nose you can expect toasted oak, vanilla, dried fruit and a soft white wine note, with gentle floral and spice tones following. The palate is firm and full bodied, bringing oak spice, caramelised wood sugars, citrus peel, and a nutty fruit depth linked to the Pineau cask influence. The finish is long and structured, with lingering tannin grip, vanilla, dried fruit and warm spice that stays bright and detailed through the fade.