Isautier Secret de Canne comes from one of Réunion's oldest distilleries. Like its sister distilleries on the island, Isautier is able to produce both molasses and pure cane juice rums.
Secret de Canne is a blend of 50% rhum blanc agricole and 50% rhum vieux agricole.
The aged rum is aged for 8 years in oak barrels, with a two-stage maturation process. The first was in new barrels for 8 to 14 months. This allowed the rum to extract maximum woodiness and tannins. It was then placed for 7 years in "roux" barrels (used, weathered barrels that had already been aged several times) to allow it to mature slowly.
Nico's tasting notes
The nose presents a cane in its simplest form, sweet, vegetal, with a ripe, cloudy juice with mastic accents. This is a rested, calm, almost placid rum, which coats a little with time and takes on an air of nougat.
Aeration brings out some very ripe exotic fruits with full-bodied, fermented accents. These quickly subside, giving way to more jammy fruit. Apricot and greengage come to mind.
On the palate, candied cane coexists with apricot jam enhanced by herbs and honey. The cane sugar that emerges on the mid-palate gives us a lovely brioche-like sweetness, and invites us to quench our lips again quickly.
The finish is lightly toasted and finely peppery. Gourmandise remains the watchword.
"It's in its simplicity that this rum delights us. Here's a bottle that shouldn't last long in a good discussion between friends... "
Mrs SAUER
Unfortunately, I didn't taste the rum - it was a gift - so I relied on my son-in-law, who said it was excellent.