A brand new distillery that emerged in 2008, Chamarel is completely independent: it grows its own sugar cane, harvested by hand (and without burning), allowing it to work with an extremely fresh and tasty raw material. On the distillation side, the distillery uses both the continuous method (with a traditional Bardet-type column, made entirely of copper), and the discontinuous method, this time with two copper stills, heated by steam (repass distillation).

Between white rums and old rums, it is very interesting (and instructive) to follow the steps of this very young 100% autonomous company, playing on the codes and mixing genres (and distillates) in order to offer Single Blended Rhum made in Mauritius, and even Pure Single Rhum. And before returning to a session of Mauritian white rums, let's take a look at some old ones from its range...

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Chamarel VSOP / 44°

4 years old and 44°, this is the old (and very first) version; the new one now has a strength of 41° (according to the distillery's website). This blend is composed of 70% column distilled rums and 30% pot still rum (repetition still). Note that there is also a vintage VO version (2008, 3 years old and 46°).

The color is a beautiful amber tending towards a rather pale old gold, clear and bright. The legs are thick.
The nose of this VSOP is light and has a rather dry profile; it is reminiscent of a whisky and reveals a slightly toasted and vanilla woodiness, and dried herbs. The dried fruits are not left out: at first classic (raisins, fig), they evolve towards an assumed and redundant exoticism, bringing out almost candied yellow fruits. Very pleasant with a beautiful evolution. On the spice side, we find cinnamon and pepper.

The palate is nervous, but knows how to be honeyed, with on one side oak and a herbaceous (and iodized) bitterness, spices; and on the other, the sweetness of dried fruits and vanilla. It evolves towards a little more spice, pepper, and again this bitterness, but without losing this buttery and slightly gourmand side (exotic fruits). The finish is rather long, on oak and spices, dry and with a slight astringency.

A rum with a whisky profile that knows how not to fall too much into boredom. An interesting and pleasant nose, and a mouth that pulls on whisky, and to which the 44° serves well. Note: 80

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Chamarel XO / 43°

This Extra Old rum is a six-year-old; it comes from a blend of 60% column rums and 40% double-distilled rums. It is then aged in French oak barrels, 30% of which are new barrels, 60% second-fill barrels and 10% storage barrels. The new barrels are heated differently from those used for the VSOP to bring out more spices .

Chamarel is moving upmarket as stocks are built, and it is always a pleasure to see the developments.

An amber-coloured rum, slightly darker than the VSOP, and still as bright and clear (and oily).
On the nose, we are once again on a light and still dry rum, but surely less Whisky-oriented than its little brother; it is here more exotic and complex. We find dried fruits and nuts, a fine and vanilla woodiness, and even finely caramelised/burnt, as well as lemon zest. No explosion or concentration, everything happens smoothly and in successive veils. With rest, the rum strengthens, becomes darker with roasted notes, chocolate, and always this zest which brings freshness.

The attack is smooth and even quite fat, and rather lively; on liquorice, oak and spices, and on dried fruits, especially prune. It is very different from the nose, even the opposite, fat and sweet, even if the zest side avoids falling into excess. The finish is moderately long, somewhat broken in its momentum (that's an understatement), but faithful to the notes previously found; it will nevertheless persist for a long time on these woody and liquorice notes.

2 years older and yet so different from the VSOP (at least from the first version). It feels like molasses in the mouth, it is sweet but pleasant (measured between 8 and 12gr/L, see list ), with a nice power, but a cut and quite dry finish. However, the VSOP held quite a few promises. Note: 79

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Chamarel 2008 single barrel / 45°

A Pure Single Rhum vintage rum distilled in 2008 (the distillery's first historic harvest) and bottled in December 2014, so after 6 years. It was exclusively produced using their swan-neck still (Cognac type), and aged in French oak barrels (to produce 792 copies). There is also a 2009 vintage at 45° and 700 copies.

The color is even a little more amber, this time tending towards bronze and even orange, still bright and delicious.
On the nose, the rum is much more roasted, concentrated, and presents delicious aromas of grilled coconut, white-fleshed fruits (pear), almond paste, chocolate and warm spices. Finally a deep and aromatic rum, complex and very well balanced. The vanilla is also very present, for a delicious but classy nose, without nausea, which goes on the candied with the rest, and a freshness brought by the citrus fruits (menthol?). The woodiness is classy (licorice), and some metallic scents come out of the glass (copper?).

On the palate, the rum is oily and concentrated (if not more than the nose) on a fruity and spicy register, in a melted and complex mixture, candied and jammy, liquorice. Everything seems to be one, the candied fruits and the spices, and the alcohol serves the whole wonderfully in a very fair balance, which literally encompasses the palate; the spices support the whole magnificently, and strengthen until a very tasty finish, moderately long but persistent on the same aromatic palette, and always very well balanced. The liquorice comes back in force at the end.

A superb rum and proof that Chamarel is a distillery to watch. Making such a good rum so quickly is a feat of strength. Rating: 88

To help you (and me) find your way around, regarding the notes:

90 and + : exceptional and unique rum, it is the best of the best
between 85 and 89 : highly recommended rum, with that little something that makes the difference
between 80 and 84 : recommendable rum
75-79 POINTS : above average
70-74 POINTS : in the low average
less than 70 : not very good

Review courtesy of DuRhum.com.

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