Labourdonnais XO is a pure cane juice rum produced by the Mauritian distillery in Mapou.
It is the fruit of a blend of column-distilled rums, aged for several years in tropical ex-cognac and ex-bourbon oak casks. Bottling is carried out on site, without cold filtration.
Founded in 1774, the Labourdonnais estate is a historic site that houses a château built in 1859, now restored and converted into a museum. The Labourdonnais distillery was built in 2006. It was formerly known as the Mascareignes rum distillery.
Nico's tasting notes
The nose offers a whisky-like quality, with mellow cereal and a slightly toasted edge. A certain woody elegance reigns on the nose, and the rum already shows a united, harmonious side.
Aeration produces a lovely jam of woody notes and spices, on a base of soft, fragrant beeswax. The cane appears as a tender nougat topped with equally soft almonds.
The palate opens with an extremely fragrant woodiness, like exotic gingerbread, with tonka bean, vanilla, cinnamon and nutmeg. The cane juice, reduced to caramel, is impregnated with this blend of sweet spices, adding velvety, gourmand notes to its herbaceous side.
The finish returns to cane juice au naturel, with a characteristic pepper and a hint of citrus zest bitterness. A few coffee flavors come through on the long finish.
"A pure, velvety juice, fragrant with sweet spices..."
