New Grove 8yo

New Grove 8yo is a really interesting rum from the country of Mauritius—an island group to the east of Madagascar and Africa that has formerly been both a French and English colony. The producer of New Grove, Grays, own the entire process from sugar production to bottling.

Unfortunately as is all too common in rum, it’s bottled at a sad 40%. It may well be coloured, but did not taste to me to be sweetened. It appears to in fact have been aged the full 8 years it says on the bottle, no solera nonsense here.

This is a series of blind tastings from the “24 Rums” advent calendar. I have not looked at what is in the calendar, so every one of these reviews is 100% no prior knowledge.

1. Dictador 20
2. Whisper Antigua Gold Rum
3. New Grove 8yo
4. Cihuatan 8 year Solera
5. Domaine de Séverin VO
6. Novo Fogo Familia
7. NAUD Ron Panama 15yo
8. Enghaven Blackstrap Rum
9. Zuidam Flying Dutchman Dark Rum No. 3
10. Deadhead Dark Chocolate
11. Rum Magec Ron Añejo XO Oloroso
12. Fijian Rum Liqueur 8yo
13. Matugga Golden Rum
14. Cane Island Trinidad Rum
15. Cane Island Jamaica Rum
16. Saint James Rhum Vieux 7yo
17. Neptuns Rhum
18. Cane Island Cuba Rum
19. Borgoe 8yo
20. Mombacho Ron Reserva 8yo
21. Old New Orleans Amber Rum
22. Tres Hombres 2017 7 year Solera
23. Travellers 5yo Reserve
24. Barceló Imperial Ron Dominicano
25. Barceló Imperial Ron Dominicano (Take 2)

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Distiller: Grays, Inc.
ABV: 40%
Age: 8yo
Cask type: French Oak.
Source: “24 Rums” Advent Calendar
Setting: Blind

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Nose: Spun sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, bay leaf, rich oak, some sulfur/medicinal sherry notes.
Palate: Light, an interesting fish sauce funk, rich sulfured dry fruits, quite delicious.
Finish: Dried fruit notes expand and gain a leafy bamboo note.
Overall: Delicious dark fruit and oak spice forward rum with some interesting mild funk and a great finish. It tastes like it is free of added sugar, and somewhere around 45-46%. great stuff.
Rank: 6
Reveal: Mauritius! Wow. Never heard of it, but this was great! I’m surprised buy the proof, it is really tasting impressive for 40%.