Le Domaine de Saint Aubin has existed as a Plantation since 1819 and it takes its identify from unique proprietor Pierre de St. Aubin. It’s positioned south of Rivière des Anguilles on the South coast of Mauritius. It’s operation as a sugar rising plantation has continued unabated because it’s inception but Rhum manufacturing got here later. How a lot later I have no idea. The plantations location provides rise to a microclimate whose steadiness of rain and sunshine pairs with the volcanic soil to create supreme circumstances for cultivating sugarcane.
The sugarcane, as soon as harvested is instantly transported to the mill the place it’s pressed to extract the juice. The primary press is named ‘fangourin’ domestically and it’s this that’s used to endure quick fermentation. In addition they make use of each batch and steady strategies of distillation.
To be trustworthy, that’s about as a lot data as I can discover in regards to the place……so we’ll swiftly transfer onto the liquid within the bottle.
Saint Aubin Historical past Assortment Cuvée Grande Réserve – 40% abv – 3.9 g/l components
To cite the accessible data:
With the “Historical past Assortment” collection, the distillery of Saint Aubin pays tribute to the historic details that formed Mauritius.
Restricted to 5218 bottles, our Cuvée Grande Réserve commemorates the bicentenary of the conquest of “L’Isle de France” which befell between the twenty ninth November and the 2nd December 1810 within the north of Mauritius.
A couple of months following the Battle of Grand Port, England had gathered an expeditionary power commanded by Sir John Abercomby. They landed in Cap Malheureux and shortly dominated the French forces of the Governor Decaen which had been low in quantity. Following the Treaty of Paris in 1814, Isle de France was given to England and received its identify Ile de Maurice, or Mauritius again.
The rear bottle label states 7 years previous, which might tally with the indicated 2007 Harvest and 2014 launch dates famous on the field. However I’ve learn that there are parts of 10 yr previous batch distilled Rhum within the mix which in response to Lance over at The Lone Caner is 30% batch and 70% steady. Maturation befell in a mixture of each ex-bourbon and French oak casks.
Let’s see what this one gives up.
Tasting Notes
Nostril: Upon preliminary pour, the only most outstanding aroma that involves the fore is that of an artificial caramel…..the like of which may be discovered atop an affordable grocery store creme caramel. I’ll be trustworthy, it takes some shaking. So we energy by way of. An extra of vanilla is damaged by ripe purple fruits……raspberries, plums and a wealth of hedgerow berries. Purple berry packet microwave porridge with a sprinkling of brown sugar. Mushy purple liquorice. Walnuts and maple syrup. Spiced caramel. There’s a again finish of moist wooden that also carries that artificial caramel and possibly the merest trace of chocolate milkshake.
Mouth: The phantasm of a sturdy, oily mouthfeel quickly slides off the sting of the tongue to show an entire transition from the nostril. Artificial caramel that brings disagreeable bitterness. Heaps of purple berry compote. Dried cranberries. Candy porridge. Maple syrup on buttery pastry. Icing sugar. Caramel spiked with pre-grated nutmeg and cinnamon powder. Heaps of vanilla. The barrel is disappointingly lacking for one thing that has spent an honest period of time in French oak and it solely exhibits through a bit spice. The end is of a medium size and brings a few of that purple liquorice together with a contact of fennel like anise. Caramel bitterness on the dying.
In conclusion: All of it simply feels very muted. Prefer it needs stretch it’s legs. It needs to have a bit extra energy within the supply. It needs to to stay as much as what we all know that Mauritius can produce. It needs to be reflective of its environment. Nevertheless it’s sadly certain by the selections made submit course of quite than being outlined by the method itself and it turns a what may’ve been right into a what’s actually not. Its not notably candy, the additions haven’t been used to try this. It’s boring, muted, artificial and maybe probably the most terrible factor {that a} Rum could possibly be, bland. The addition of caramel at such ranges that it clearly holds again the olfactory expertise while making its presence recognized through artificial bitterness on the palate coupled with what I’d hazard a guess is a fruit maceration executed with all of the subtlety of a brick to the face had been two of the worst choices made within the creation of this product. I’d even be exhausting pressed to determine it as a cane juice product, which is a criminal offense in itself. A lesson to all that even at this stage, we will all be duped into shopping for a poor product and proof additional that label readability is required. Until you take pleasure in boring, muted, straightforward going choices from a few of the large South American gamers, steer clear. Mauritius can (and will) accomplish that significantly better. The stays of the bottle are free to an excellent house.
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