Review: Penny Blue XO Mauritian Rum
Imported by Anchor Distilling from that remote African island of Mauritius (where a handful of rums are made), Penny Blue is a limited edition rum from the oldest distillery on the island, built in 1926. The sugarcane is sourced from a single estate, and the rum is then matured for about seven years in a mix of whiskey and Cognac casks. The rum is named after a very rare stamp printed on the island, only 12 of which are known to still be in existence — which is fitting for a rare rum such as this.
The nose is initially overwhelming with old wood, charcoal, and skunky notes. These fade with time, revealing a more classic structure of vanilla and caramel, cut with orangey sherry and toffee notes. On the palate, it’s bigger and burlier than most rums, with a hefty back-end of tannic wood character overlaying dried spices, more toffee, vanilla, and notes of what I might describe as smoky beef jerky.
It’s a curious and unusual rum, intriguing through and through but not entirely balanced. My hunch is this rum is a bit on the old side, and that at about 5 years it’d probably be just about perfect. Ah well, such is life.
88.2 proof. 2500 bottles allocated to U.S.
B / $80 / anchordistilling.com [BUY IT NOW FROM DRIZLY]
Penny Blue XO Mauritian Rum
$80
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