Seychelles-based rum brand Takamaka has launched the St André Series. The collection is made up of four rums that “truly represents what Seychelles rum is all about,” says a press release.
Takamaka employs a variety of techniques and methods to create its Seychellois rum, using a mix of cane and molasses rums, combining pot and column distilled rums, utilizing pressed rums, and finally blending with Bajan rums. Designed to celebrate the rich heritage and Creole traditions of Takamaka’s island home, whilst at the same time push the boundaries of conventional rum making, the range is diverse and complex. The St André series suits all serves, whether simply sipped over ice, or enjoyed in a long and elegant highball.
The range is made up of four rums: Extra Noir, Zepis Kerol, Pti Lakaz, and Grankaz.
Extra Noir is a blend of pot and column distilled molasses rum, soaked with ex-bourbon American oak wood fines then pressed with both French and ex-bourbon cask wood. Finally, the rum is filtered and rested in second fill ex-cane French oak casks for 60 days, before being filtered once more and bottled. The result is a full bodied, punchy rum that retains some high ester funk and spicy elements from the French oak, with notes of vanilla and sweet undertones from the ex-bourbon wood. With no sugar added, at 43% ABV this is ideal for a long and serious highball.
Zepis Kreol draws its character both from oak and local Seychelles spices. A blend of pot and column distilled molasses rum which is pre-soaked with ex-merlot French oak wood fines, it is then macerated with locally grown natural spices before being pressed. It is then blended with an eight-year-old Bajan Foursquare rum before a final resting for 60 days in very old ex-bourbon casks, after which it is then filtered a final time before bottling. Zepis Kreol delivers a true depth of flavour with a rich, okay character, complemented by local cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves and quatre épices, with just a hint of island sweetness. No colouring is added, and this 43% ABV rum can be served long or short but is perfect over ice.
Pti Lakaz is an honest testament of what can be achieved when cask ageing rum on the tropical island of Mahe’. Traditional pot distilled Seychelles cane rum from three different barrels, including two ex-Radoux casks and one ex-port cask, is blended with pot and column distilled molasses rum that’s been rested for three years in ex-bourbon casks, as well as an eight-year-old Bajan Foursquare molasses rum. Bottled at 45.1% ABV with no colour or sugar added, and non-chill filtered, this rum is full of rich fruity notes of star anise and dried cocoa beans, with a complex finish full of dry spice.
Grankaz is the epitome of Seychelles rum, showcasing Takamaka’s ageing and blending craft. Traditional pot distilled Seychelles cane rum aged in medium toast new French oak is blended with three-year-old ex-bourbon molasses rum and an eight-year-old Bajan Foursquare molasses rum. Bottled at 45.1% ABV, no sugar or colouring is added and it is only very lightly filtered. Herbaceous and slightly floral on the nose, there are gentle hints of vanilla, followed by silky and smooth stewed fruits and flavours of butterscotch. The layers of complexity give way to a long finish with notes of toasted oak.
The Takamaka St André Series will be distributed across Europe via Highball Brands in the UK, La Maison du Whisky in France, and Haromex in Germany. Extra Noir is priced at £35, Zepis Kreol costs £38.87, Pti Lakaz comes in at £43.65, and Grankaz is priced at £49.92.
For more information, head over to Takamaka’s official website.
Last year, Takamaka launched a brand-new look and brought its “Seychelles Series” to Europe.
