Mhoba Bushfire is a pot-still distilled rum made from pure cane juice. This version is a nod to South African culture, where Braai (large barbecues) are part of custom. Meat is grilled and smoked using hardwoods such as the acacia found in the bush. To reproduce this particular flavour, Mhoba has decided to mature its rum in "dames-jeannes" containing toasted acacia wood.
Nico's tasting notes
On the nose, we immediately take in a big, beautiful whiff of ripe cane. For once, the brand's characteristic solvent is clearly in the background, giving way to vegetal notes, resinous aromatics, or even cane juice fermented with olives in brine.
Aeration reveals a surprisingly smoky woodiness that compliments the concentrated cane without overpowering it. It's easy to imagine a wood fire, as the smoke becomes increasingly present. You get the impression of being close to a wood-fired alembic, from which flows a most artisanal rum.
On the palate, it's like an artisanal cane brandy from the South African bush. Sugar cane transpires from every drop, accompanied by deep notes of fermentation, vegetal, resinous, slightly briny and sprinkled with mushrooms. Smoke comes in second, and settles on this superb spirit as it would on a mezcal.
The finish is delicious. The smoky notes fade and give way to cane sugar flavors.
"A very nice proposal from Mhoba, who before playing with smoke really concentrates on the cane..."
