I believe it’s about time that South African rum be lined on Malt once more.
It has been greater than a yr since Mhoba was final reviewed on Malt, which isn’t shocking since rum continues to be shedding many years price of unhealthy repute from misunderstandings attributable to lazy advertising and marketing and lazy journalism.
With the Caribbean being the middle of world rum manufacturing for the reason that 1600s, it’s to be anticipated that the majority of as we speak’s standard rums are from that area. Because of this elevated recognition, we’ve been seeing extra high quality rum coming from Asia and Africa. Japan’s 9 Leaves, Thailand’s Chalong Bay, and Vietnam’s Sampan are a couple of examples from Asia.
South Africa’s Mhoba, Reunion Island’s Savannah, and Mauritius’ New Grove are some examples from the African continent. This shouldn’t be shocking to us, as we’ve seen this pattern by means of whisk(e)y. Single malt Scotch’s rise in recognition has paved the best way for Asian manufacturers similar to Taiwan’s Kavalan, India’s Amrut and the numerous rising manufacturers of Japan.
My intention as we speak is to match Mhoba aged in ex-bourbon casks to Mhoba aged in French oak. Whisk(e)y stands out as the spirit that sees probably the most barrel growing old, however how typically will we see a whisk(e)y that’s solely seen the within of French Oak? There’s an untold quantity of whiskies aged solely in ex-bourbon casks, whereas those which have any form of French oak affect are normally double-matured with ex-bourbon casks. So I’ve all the time been curious at how French Oak can actually have an effect on a distillate.
The Mhoba that’s solely touched an ex-bourbon cask as we speak is from Holmes Cay. They’re an American-owned and based mostly impartial rum bottler that I’ve lined previously. This Holmes Cay Mhoba is definitely from an ex-South African whisky cask, nevertheless it was additionally an ex-bourbon cask earlier than it obtained full of South African whisky. So, it’s nonetheless technically ex-bourbon.
There aren’t a variety of South African whisky manufacturers but. The few I do know of are Bain’s Cape, Three Ships, and Copper Republic, however these are the one ones which have acquired some worldwide consideration. So, this cask might have come from a distillery that’s not recognized to me but.
Mhoba’s Choose Reserve French Cask is as we speak’s different rum. In line with their web site, they refurbish and re-toast Cape crimson wine casks. The rum is aged for a couple of yr in these French oak casks.
I’ll additionally word that this isn’t meant to be a definitive description of what Mhoba shall be like after being aged in these two varieties of cask. Like many rum distilleries, they make totally different marques of rum; they’re simply anonymous in the mean time. So, I don’t know whether or not these two are the identical marques, or in the event that they’re the identical.
Further notes: distillers say re-charring a cask is a technique to reset it. I’m guessing that is because of the flames burning the traces of any alcohol within the wooden. So, I’m assuming the concept is similar for re-toasting. Toasting is rather like charring, however with decrease warmth.
A Cape additionally refers to a geographical time period that’s typically utilized to wine. It’s a big piece of land that stands proud into the ocean from the coast. South Africa has a variety of these, with Cape City being the most well-liked.
Holmes Cay Mhoba 2017 4 Years Previous – Overview
Distilled 2017. Bottled 2021. Bottle #116. Cask #48. 59% ABV. USD $109.99 from Okay&L Wines.
Coloration: Golden hay.
On the nostril: Wealthy, funky and savory. The aromas carry on altering after each time I attempt to odor this, so I’ll simply point out every part I odor. I get medium to pronounced aromas of pineapple syrup, brandied cherries, sugarcane vinegar, gasoline, Taiwanese pineapple cake, sugarcane juice, lemongrass syrup, chocolate, toffee, minerals, pineapple shrub, sugarcane stakes, pineapple crown, and honey.
Within the mouth: Similar to on the nostril, the orders of flavors change after each sip. I get medium to intense tastes of muscovado sugar, toffee, gasoline, Taiwanese pineapple cake, pineapple syrup, brandied cherries, caramelized onions, lemongrass syrup, chocolate, sugarcane vinegar, pineapple shrub, and honey.
Conclusions:
I believe that is excellent. Mhoba could also be a sugarcane juice-based rum, nevertheless it’s very totally different from many of the already established ones made within the Caribbean. It’s been stated earlier than, however the aged Mhobas I’ve tried have all been like a mixture of Jamaican rum blended with high notch aged agricole.
Other than being very totally different, it’s additionally unpredictable but constant. Unpredictable, as a result of experiencing that is like interacting with a really admirable individual you don’t know effectively, who’s displaying off the totally different sides of his character. Constant, as a result of the rum ranges from having sturdy funky fruit flavors to having sugarcane-based rum acidity and funk. Every time I odor and style the rum, the flavors are grouped up collectively in these form of profiles. It’s as if the dominant flavors willingly take turns with one another to current themselves.
This is among the finest rums I’ve had this yr. Regardless of being younger, I discover this rum to be virtually the whole bundle. If solely the flavors lasted longer, I believe I’d give this a ten.
Rating: 9/10
Mhoba Choose Reserve French Cask Rum – Overview
Batch #2019FCL. Bottle # 314/330. 65% ABV. €94.5 from Zeewijck.
Coloration: Honey.
On the nostril: There’s a robust ethanol warmth accompanied by a funk that lingers. After and behind the warmth are mild to medium and lengthy aromas of pineapple shrub, sugarcane vinegar, Taiwanese pineapple muffins, pineapple syrup, freshly toasted milk bread, brandied cherries, pineapple crown, and freshly baked bread. In between are flashes of sandalwood, cedar, soy sauce, and ginkgo beans.
Within the mouth: My first sip is sweeter and fruitier than the nostril. It’s additionally scorching, however not as scorching as what you’d anticipate from one thing bottled at 65%. I get medium to intense tastes of pineapple syrup, brandied cherries, lemongrass syrup, French toast, honey, toffee, and butterscotch. In between and on the finish are flashes of sugarcane vinegar, ginkgo beans, freshly toasted baguette, pineapple crows, sugarcane stalks and the crusty a part of a crème brûlée.
Conclusions:
It might be because of the age distinction, however this isn’t as complicated because the Holmes Cay Mhoba. Nonetheless, this can be a nice rum. The distillery DNA in that is simply as pronounced because the Holmes Cay, however the lack of cask growing old makes it not as complicated.
This additionally lacks the shock issue the Holmes Cay Mhoba’s unpredictability brings. Other than that, I don’t see any faults on this rum. Probably the most unfavourable factor about that is how scorching and younger it’s, nevertheless it’s not as scorching as what you’d anticipate for one thing at 65% ABV.
Sadly, the cask comparability just isn’t conclusive on account of how the distillery DNA overpowers the cask affect and the distinction in age. Don’t get me mistaken: I like how the distillery DNA is stronger than the cask flavors. However there are some delicate flavors derived from the distinction in cask affect.
