Saint Aubin VSOP comes to us from the pioneer of pure cane juice rum in Mauritius: the Saint Aubin distillery. Its Single Estate rums are produced entirely from the estate's own cane. They receive constant attention, from field to bottle. After distillation in copper columns, the rums are aged in bourbon and cognac casks. After a minimum of 4 years' maturation, the rums are blended. The VSOP is bottled in numbered bottles.
Nico's tasting notes
The nose is initially driven by coppery notes, and one imagines a smoking still near which a few walnuts are roasting. Scorched spices take over, opening the way to a roasted register of toasted oak and coffee.
Aeration reinforces the coppery, smoky character, and warm, tarry notes can even be detected. The wood is also strongly scorched, releasing aromas of coffee and roasted nuts. The rum then quietly relaxes, revealing a hint of fruit syrup.
The palate is caressed by a candied cane, which cheerfully lets green, vegetal, yet sweet notes slip through. The melted wood carries flavors of almond, stone and spicy apricot jam (paprika).
On the finish, the oak fiber is bursting with vanilla blond tobacco and coconut milk, with a mellowness that stretches into length.
"A contrasted and varied profile, which results in great greed..."
Stéphane Ti'verre
On the nose 👃🏻: I find it original and seductive. A slightly waxed oak comes in delicately, delivering a lovely sweetness right from the start. It's old-fashioned and medium-bodied, with a hint of lightly caramelized vanilla. The fruit is generous and seems candied, a mix of pear and mango. As the minutes go by, the woodiness takes on a slightly toasty profile, and the fruit just gets better and better.
In the mouth 👅: I have a pastry side here that reminds me a lot of brioche bread topped with sugar. I also get gourmand notes like rum-soaked raisins. The oak is really well integrated, toasted just right for my taste. It brings some roasted hazelnuts to the mid-palate. The spices are well balanced, with vanilla, cinnamon and the sweetness of cane.
The finish is moderately long, enough to enjoy for a moment before wanting to come back to it. Fresh cane is perceptible alongside the woodiness, which doesn't take over, and the fruitiness is rounded out by sweet almond at the very end 👌
Verdict ⚡️: this VSOP rum clearly deserves more attention, and I really enjoyed it. At times, it reminded me of my Bielle Premium Ambré, only less sophisticated and sweeter, but already very well made for the asking price. This is a gourmet, accessible rum that will delight lovers of the genre 👍
François Rémi
I really like this distillery, and their VSOP is really nice! Accessible, gourmand and also with freshness, I'm on my second bottle! XD
Yann Roussard
Very nice rum, great balance and a lot of deliciousness for a pure juice!
Top value for money!