Grays New Grove Savoir Faire Single Cask (20 Vin) 2008 50%

"Still restrained on the nose, so that you don't really recognize New Grove, but the rum really gets going on the palate! Heavy fruity and woody at the same time, warm and incredibly complex, a feast for the palate! I really like this rum, it ranks right up there with the New Groves. If the nose wasn't so restrained, it would even be at the top of my list. As the 20Vin stores are only available in Mauritius, my decision is clear: I will return there and look for this rum! 😊 Update 2024-04-29: This really is a particularly good rum. Today I didn't find it at all restrained on the nose, which is why the rum now gets one more point. The incarnation of New Grove, I love these aromas! Update 2024-06-18: Yes, I made it and brought myself the rum from Mauritius, Grays delivery service delivered it free to my door there. 🤗 That's the good news. It is somewhat clouded by the fact that the rum unfortunately loses out to the top New Grove 2009 (RX2744) in the crosstasting: On the palate, it simply has too few watts to keep up with the Croesus; after all, more alcohol transports more flavors. But it is still a top product from Grays, especially for the incredible price of just EUR 50 for an SC. 😍"

"An der Nase allem voran würzige Noten, Trockenfrüchte, trop. Früchte und dezent Kaugummi. Dazu auch leicht florale Anklänge. Im Mund dann neben Pfirsich auch etwas Menthol (Minze?), Karamell, trop. Früchte und auch hier wieder dezent Kaugummi a la Savanna HERR. Gefällt mir in Summe sehr gut. Edit: Nochmal ein Quervergleich mit den folgenden Abfüllungen, die mir bei vorherigen Verkostungen alle bereits sehr gut gefallen haben: Fine Spirits 2009 (RX2949) Savoir Faire 2012 #256 (RX7608) Savoir Faire (20Vin) 2008 (RX13081) LMDW 2009 (RX2744) Für mich ist der LMDW der knappe Sieger (8.8), weil er für mich am meisten Komplexität mitbringt. Mit 8.7 der Fine Spirits auf Platz 2, da er einfach krass intensive Minz/Menthol-Noten mitbringt und sich so etwas von den anderen Abfüllungen absetzt. #256 landet mit 8.6 auf Platz 3 mit viel Frucht und auch ordentlich Minze. Der 20Vin ist dem #256 ziemlich ähnlich, aber weniger intensiv und damit knapp dahinter mit 8.5"

"On the nose, initially a caramelly sweetness, dried fruit, some leather and wood in the direction of the barrel, but not unpleasant. The palate is then beautifully fruity, yellow, bright fruits, a little peppery and then a slight, pleasant bitterness and a light minty note on the finish."

"Nose: classic Grays with a nice minty note. Palate: alcohol quite well integrated, somewhat bitter, menthol, bitter orange, some wood, some caramel due to the tropical maturation."

"8,7:On the nose, the first impression is very fruity with peaches, dried fruits and cherry.The molasses is vegetal and waxy, the wood roasted. As we air the rum, the wood is spicy, charred with caramel, chocolate and later buttery biscuits, fruits are yellow and citrusy. Very balanced and round. 8,6:On the palate, the attack is spicy, fruity, as molasses is waxy and bitter.The fruits are yellow and dried, the wood roasted, peppery and dry. After some rest, tropical fruits with maracuja, mandarine come out, the wood becomes musty, molasses vegetal, but covered with honey. Later we can taste stronger barrel with some mocha, sweet malt and menthol, nicely round and tasty. 8,7:The finish is long, velvety, woody, waxy and dry.The wood is musty,roasted, spicy,the fruits yellow, dried and tropical with ripe banana and citrus."

"So far the best New Grove I have tasted, the comparison to the 2009 LMDW is still pending. Very complex, round and intense. If you leave the glass after drinking it, an extremely intense smell of beeswax remains. This rum is really fun, unfortunately it is only available in Mauritius itself The comparison with the 2009 LMDW has been made. This one is hot on its heels"

"Leider ein etwas schwächerer Vertreter, der wenig intensiv und komplex daherkommt. Die bekannten Aromen sind vorhanden und schön sind die Frucht- und Röstaromen. Allerdings zu unausgewogen und dünn für 50%. Einen Tick zu scharf."

"Wow thanks to Gunnar for sharing, these rums not available here! Aromatically, it hits the spot for me - and you wouldn't believe that such a rum is available in Mauritius for the equivalent of €50. Blindly, I would probably have guessed a Reunion molasses rum, as it has that typical spicy, woody tobacco note for me, and in the finish there is also menthol and orange, which brings us back to Mauritius. A really great composition of flavors, only at the end it gets a bit thin and bitter. I still really like it though!"