The small island of Mauritius is famous for its beaches, beautiful nature, and rum. Its rum is popular for its high quality and unique taste. If you are planning a trip here, you should definitely not miss out on tasting the local rum. It will allow you to get to know the local culture and traditions.
Mauritius has a long history of rum production, dating back to the 18th century when rum was produced on or near sugar cane plantations. As on the nearby island of Réunion, the French colonialists played a significant role in the rum tradition. To this day, rum production in Mauritius is still carried out in the traditional way, with sugar cane, of course, at the origin. It is harvested and ground to extract as much juice as possible. It is then left to ferment and distilled in copper pot stills. The resulting spirit is usually left to mature in oak barrels. It is during barrel aging that Mauritian rum acquires its characteristic flavor and aroma. However, the details of the rum-making process vary from producer to producer, and we will come to that later.
The island is home to six distilleries and dozens of rum producers who do not distill rum, but this does not stop them from producing their own brands. They buy their un-aged rums from the aforementioned distilleries and then work with them—each with their own unique recipes and production techniques, of course. Some of the most famous Mauritian rum brands include Green Island, New Grove, Chamarel, Arcane, and last but not least, the Gold of Mauritius brand.
The flavor profile of rums from this island is very diverse, offering something for everyone. Among the most popular is the fresh white rum and an aged rum normally matured in oak casks; it is darker in color and has a more pronounced flavor and aroma than the light rum. Rums of this type often have notes of caramel, vanilla, nuts, or spices, a more sophisticated flavor profile, and are often enriched by the characteristics of the wood they have acquired during aging. Not forgetting spicy but sweeter rums, flavored with various spices and herbs that give the rum a unique flavor and aroma. For example, cinnamon, cloves, ginger, and orange peel are often used for these purposes on the island. Of course, there is also the pinnacle in the form of luxury, premium, and limited edition rums. These are often produced in limited editions, aged for 20 years or more. These rums are highly prized among connoisseurs and usually serve as collector's pieces.
The rum tradition is captivating
When you ask a rum connoisseur why Mauritian rum, they will usually provide several arguments. The main one, however, is the location itself—the French are fond of using the term terroir, which refers to the combination of soil, climate, terrain, and traditions in a given area. The microclimate that prevails in this part of the Indian Ocean ensures a very different style of rum than what we are used to in the Caribbean. Mauritian rum is made from high-quality sugar cane that grows in ideal climatic conditions. This allows the rum producers to work with a quality base material from the outset, from which they can produce high-quality rum. And working in this case really means using traditional production methods and techniques that have been perfected over many generations.
Another factor contributing to the popularity of Mauritian rum is its more limited availability. Some of the local distilleries only produce rum for the local market and are very difficult to obtain. And then there are the limited editions, which are produced in limited numbers and are intended for export. These rums are often highly prized collector's pieces and are sought after by rum lovers around the world.
Pure gold from a small island
And the Gold of Mauritius rums certainly prove that this island can really surprise. The brand is currently run by Frederic Bestel, who took over the business from his father. The brand's philosophy is that Frederic buys a selection of quality rums from various local distilleries that might hardly make it beyond the island's borders and subjects them to further blending and aging. The result is spirits full of character and very pleasant notes of chocolate, vanilla, and nuts.
Gold of Mauritius is famous for aging its rums in South African port wine casks. This creates a spirit that reflects the many facets of the island and its rich cultural history, which blends the influence of European, African, and Asian cultures.
You will fall in love with Gold of Mauritius Solera 8. Gold of Mauritius Solera 5 will reassure you that you are dealing with an exceptional rum, and the classic Gold of Mauritius can easily become your partner whenever you think of good rum. The former is more sophisticated, with heavier and fuller notes of chocolate, coffee, and nuts. The second, a five-year-old, has a mature woody character and adds a hint of nuts and malt to the chocolate notes. The Gold of Mauritius base range will reward you with balance, smoothness, silky and light notes of oak, malt, and roasted nuts. Gold of Mauritius is definitely a brand of rums that will introduce rum drinkers to the island and its flavors in their full glory.
And speaking of this brand—we have a big surprise for you. A few weeks ago, Frederic Bestel visited Prague in person. Yes, the Frederic who signed the Gold of Mauritius rums. And we had a chance to talk to him in person. We'll bring you an interview with him soon.
Cherry wood and banana macerate
Now let's take a look at the rums produced under the Arcane brand. This name is derived from the "Art of Cane," or the art of cane. The producers of this spirit really pay homage to this "family DNA" and pride themselves on distilling pure juice from premium sugar cane. This allows them to 'pick up' the subtle nuances that the cane transfers to the spirit through the juice. Thanks to their skill, we can enjoy, for example, Arcane Delicatisime, which for some of us is even an alluring rum with an incredible aroma. Add to it spicy notes of pepper and you get one of those distillates that characterize the rums of Mauritius. And then there's Arcane Flamboyance, which is a very luxurious premium rum that has been aged for 12 to 18 months in barrels made from wild cherry wood. It added surprisingly elegant fruit flavors to an already complex rum. This is a single cask edition, meaning that the rums were not blended before bottling, so the contents may vary slightly from cask to cask. Only 17 casks were produced, i.e., approximately 6,900 bottles. The bottle is labeled with the number of the cask from which the rum originated and the number of the bottle from that cask. These are precisely the limited numbers of bottles that have been mentioned.
But then there is a specific category of rums that makes its home on the islands off the coast of South Africa and is hard to find elsewhere in the world. These are the so-called Arrangé rums, which include some equally interesting pieces. These are a particularly delicious combination of delicate rum from Mauritius and the tropical fruits that are typical of the island. This exotic elixir is ideal chilled or on the rocks, as an aperitif or digestif. You can have Arcane Arrangé Banane Flambée, Arcane Arrangé Vanilles des Îles, or Arcane Arrangé Pineapple Rôti in your glass. You can always tell which fruit has been macerated in the premium rum by its name. And you won't go wrong if you're looking for sweeter, rum-based fruit liqueurs with an absolutely delicate taste. You can enjoy them on their own, but they can also be used in the kitchen or with specific dishes, including desserts.
A tour into history and the diversity of flavors
The La Rhumerie de Chamarel distillery looks beautiful from the outside. Surrounded by the beautiful Mauritian countryside, it is one of the few that still grows its own sugar cane. It is carefully selected and grown exclusively for the production of Chamarel rums. And therein lies the first secret of their quality. The harvest is carried out by hand and lasts from July to December. Master blenders therefore know the cane perfectly and can select the best parts for their white and aged rums. The freshly harvested cane is transported to the distillery within 4 hours, preserving its freshness and aroma.
When you visit Mauritius, don't miss out on the tours offered by this distillery in the southwest of the island. It will be well worth it. The company has even opened its own restaurant, L'Alchimiste, where you can go especially for lunch and, by appointment, for exclusive dinners.
Chamarel prides itself on its premium rum liqueurs, from tangerine to vanilla, and its spiced rums are definitely worth trying, with top-notch whites such as Chamarel Premium Rum White, sought after for its distinctive, exceptional aroma and long finish, or Chamarel Double Distilled, which is distilled in small copper stills using the same method as cognac, another of the charms of rum making in Mauritius.
We'll enjoy them, and next time we'll venture a little further afield again. Because we're by no means finished. Next time, we'll travel the islands and discover more of the Indian Ocean's rums. Follow us and enjoy the rums of this unusual region with us.
