Savanna R(h)um Tasting
La Réunion is one of the French overseas departments, just like the two better-known rum islands of Guadeloupe and Martinique. One of the island's best-known rum producers is Savanna. Master distiller Laurent Broc is primarily responsible for the various aroma classifications, experiments, much of the technology behind the distillery and also the ageing methods from which the brand's very broad portfolio is created today.
Column stills serve as the production method for the Rhum Traditionnel. Grand Arôme Rhum, on the other hand, can have its origins in pot stills or column stills, for example. Sugar cane is grown under ideal conditions in the northern part of the island and the distillery, which was founded in 1870, only produces around 300 hectolitres of rum per day between July and November on a Savalle still and a pot still. The rum intended for storage then uses barrels made from Limousin or Allier oak.
Above: The Savanna Distillery today, with one of the island's two sugar refineries and its store
Copyright: Reunion
Savanna is unique in that it is the only distillery in the world that produces rhum agricole (based on pure sugar cane juice), traditional rum (based on molasses), Grand Arôme (high ester rum) and light rum. The distillery shows that very different aroma palettes can be obtained from one and the same raw material. Few others have such a range in the basic flavors of their portfolio. The Grand Arôme is particularly interesting, almost disappeared otherwise in the Caribbean, it is a molasses rum produced with very long and special fermentation methods and a content of congeners of more than 800g / HLAP and a minimum ester content of 500g / HLAP. This results in quite unique and intense aromas, as you will see in the tasting notes below.
In the tasting below, my particular highlights were definitely the popular and special Lontan, but the Le Must was also convincing with its unique range of aromas. You can tell: I like unusual flavors, unique selling points are sexy... The Metis was completely solid for the price, but didn't give me any outstanding reason not to reach for other high-quality white rums up to 22€. I would always rather recommend the Traditionnel Intense, a price/performance banger with character, also in the 20-22€ range. The 5yo, on the other hand, was simply wonderful in the middle, not as in "in the middle of my ranking", there it was actually one of the best. But what I mean is it sits between the already very spicy single cask with lots of oak (also in comparison to other longer aged agricoles on the market), the 5yo really still has the best of both worlds. Young fruit and freshness, but also the spice and complexity of a little bit of ageing.
Here are just two drinks that I think are particularly fantastic for Savanna, the Tour Le Carbet and the Parasol, both by Shannon Mustipher. As also described on the cocktail pages in our library, the former works fantastically with the Savanna Grand Arôme Lontan, the mix of funky fermentation notes and the grassiness reminiscent of Agricoles. A great match for the herbaceous Suze and silky Velvet Falernum in the recipe. With the Parasol, where a simple rum made from molasses that has only been aged for a very short time is originally asked for, different options work well. The Métis gives the fruits in the drink (pineapple and banana) much more space, the Traditionnel Intense is more about intensity and clear freshness, but in my opinion the 5yo is the perfect compromise. It comes through well enough without being too aggressive, and its dry, complex notes give the drink a great complexity beyond the pure tropicality.
Tasting Notes
Savanna Rhum Traditionnel Intense 41,3%
Nose:
Relatively elegant and also fruity for a molasses-based white rum, notes of fresh almonds, mango, fresh sugar cane juice and kiwi, some still unripe pineapple and freshly pressed ginger, mirabelle plums
Taste:
Similar to the nose, it walks the fine line of fresh and full-bodied, no alcohol burn at all or aggressiveness, instead fresh sugar cane juice (think Agricole), almonds, ginger, young mango and pineapple, nicely balancing grassy and fruity notes
Finish:
Some coconut flakes are noticeably added in the finish, fresh grasses, ginger, mint, short to medium length
Savanna Rhum Grand Arôme Lontan 57,5%
Nose:
Wow, incredibly exciting, on the one hand olive brine and almost something of fresh cherry tomatoes, which then alternates with tropical, fermented fruits, roasted almonds, some lamp oil, iodine, camphor, for over 57% extremely round, fully aromatic, but zero burning
Taste:
Here it shows a little power, especially in the start, overripe citrus fruits, already slightly fermented blood orange and lemon, then again the olive brine, roasted almonds, iodine, fresh ginger juice and salt, somewhere in the back also some coconut, tropical grasses, cumin
Finish:
Fine, grassy smoke, but very subtle, ginger, olives, salt, dried citrus fruits, medium to long finish
Savanna Métis 40%
Nose:
Compared to the top two, it is a little simpler and more restrained, with vanilla in particular, almonds, a hint of banana chips and very light vegetal and mineral notes
Taste:
Banana chips, lots of vanilla, but rather fresh and elegant, not artificially sweet as in some lower quality rums, almonds, some fresh grasses in between and a hint of grapes, perhaps from the cognac barrels?
Finish:
Rather round and subtle, vanilla, grapes, almonds, some toffee, quite short
Savanna 5yo 43%
Nose:
Fine honey and light nuts, pecans and macadamia, plus light woods, also some dried fruit, apricot and peach, as well as a hint of still fresh, subtle tobacco leaves
Taste:
Very balanced between fruity-woody-spicy, works well. Oak notes nicely integrated, the tobacco somewhat more intense and aromatic, peach, apricot, vanilla, some nutmeg and grasses in between
Finish:
Grapes and fine woods, peach, tobacco and grasses, round and medium length
Savanna Le Must 45%
Nose:
Interesting, a sweet and sour contrast, on the one hand cream sweets, light honey, but also fresh sour fruits, citrus fruits, green apple, also red berries, cranberries, pear and a little banana in between
Taste:
Wonderfully aromatic, light raisins, apricots, peach and sweet, small pears, cream toffees and light honey, honeydew melon, light nuts, rounded oak, a little salt can also be found
Finish:
Grapes and candied ginger, pears, peach and light raisins, some honey in between, tobacco, medium length
Savanna 6yo Unshared Cask #25 59,5%
Nose:
Mango, guava and kiwi, plus tropical flowers, rose water, lilies, light honey, fresh nectarines and green apples, funky and invigorating, fresh sugar cane
Taste:
Fresh mint, wonderfully aromatic and intense and yet the alcohol is well integrated, light honey, guava, nectarines, green apple, fleshy peach, mango and papaya, fresh sugar cane and ginger juice, flowers, eucalyptus
Finish:
Nectarines, green apple, peach, guava, eucalyptus, light honey, rose water, medium to long, warm
The samples were provided by KIRSCH Import, thanks!
