Winner of the silver medal at the Concours Général Agricole de Paris in 2010, Karukera Réserve Spéciale is a 42% proof aged rum. Rich in aromas, Réserve Spéciale is a skilful blend of several agricultural rums aged for five years in American and French oak barrels. These cuvées are made exclusively from blue cane, renowned for its aromatic potential. What's more, aging is accelerated by the Antilles sun.
Nico's tasting notes
The nose of rhum agricole is very fine and measured. Prune and pineapple play off against cane and oak. The woodiness is mellow and spicy, but restrained. The nose is complex, with wood at every level but in different forms, and also camphor and freshness. The aromas are varied, ranging from coffee to dried fruit. The rum also has a creamy, leaden-ice aspect, and is increasingly blended with candied fruit, asserting its Guadeloupean identity. A small film of caramel dries on the rim of the glass.
Aeration gives fullness to the melted wood and freshly ground nuts. A pretty cherry or stone brandy lends a certain class to the rum. A touch of menthol adds just the right amount of freshness, confirming the rum's complexity and accomplished character.
On the palate, the woodiness is very tasty, highlighting equally tasty apricot notes. It's also made of nuts and peanut paste. These notes from the barrel contain a well-preserved cane, with a little pepperiness and a bitterness of lime zest. The gourmet notes of fermentation have also been well preserved, expressed through yeast and well-passed, stewed banana. This overflow of exoticism doesn't break the balance, however: the rum is rich but chic thanks to its full profile, sprinkled with fine spices too.
The finish inevitably picks up on the woodiness felt at every stage of the tasting. It is melted, spicy (melted pepper), and scented with dried fruit.
"A very nice rum, well composed, with accuracy and subtlety..."
Stéphane Ti'verre
On the nose 👃🏻: this is a superbly fruity rum, which jumps pleasantly to the nose. I'm getting a delicious blend of apples, grapes and even red fruits, such as cherries and even raspberries. It's sweet and almost candied, I'd say, very gourmand. The cane juice, just peppery and lemony in the background, binds it all together. The woodiness is perfectly integrated, with a hint of vanilla in parallel, and a caramel note that asserts itself in the glass with aeration.
On the palate 👅: although still a little shy on the first sip, here too I find the beautiful fruity side I had on the nose, more turned towards red fruits with an oaky note that marks its mark. A hint of nutmeg comes through. The second and subsequent mouthfuls are greedier, vanilla-flavored, rounder and more generous. It's sweet, just as it should be, with a beautiful, slightly roasted woodiness and moderately intense spiciness on the palate. It balances subtly between nuts and our red fruits.
The finish is quite pleasant, long and not excessively dry. The fruitiness shifts for a moment to something like banana, when the nutmeg then gives way to old oak and pepper 👌
Verdict ⚡️: this is a gourmet, very fruity rum, with beautiful Guadeloupean markers. I found it very fair and balanced on all levels. It's a profile that appeals to me enormously, and one that objectively lives up to the asking price. Go for it! 🤠
Mr PASSE-COUTRIN Steeve
Old in name only. No refinement. The recipe needs to be revised.
Alain Jacquet
One of the best in Gwada!
Elodie Caramello
Not my style of rum. The power outweighs the aromas.
Catherine Picavet
Very sweet and fruity
CYRIL ROMERO
Sample too small ;)
Jerome
Very correct
Christophe GUITTON
very good product, but for this price there is much better.
YVON
a slightly dry rum, but very fragrant, probably my next choice
Frédéric René Roger MAURIN
Pleasant discovery