Overview
Brand: Raising Glasses
Origin: Distillerie de Savanna, Cambuston, Saint-André, Réunion
Still: Column
Age: 6 years
Finish: ex-Bourbon
ABV: 61.7%
Réunion's prolific Savanna distillery is well-known among rum enthusiasts for their numerous expressions of rum, though many/most are not available in the United States. While Savanna is known for their rhum agricole releases, it actually produces quite a lot of rhum traditionnel ("traditional rum", aka molasses-based rum), which some may not expect given Réunion is a French overseas départment.
As part of their continuing Folklore Series, John and Lorri from Raising Glasses selected a single cask Réunion rhum traditionnel, naming it "Union". The lore states that three adherents of the island's major religions– Hinduism, Islam, and Christianity– argued about which river flowing out of their hometown fed the ocean. After traveling up a mountain, they found their rivers all originated at the same source; this united the three in friendship.
Raising Glasses Union was produced in 2017 by Distillerie de Savanna in the town of Cambuston, using a column still from a base material of molasses. It was placed in an ex-Bourbon cask and aged on-site for 2 years, before being transported to Europe for an additional 4 years. It was bottled in 2023 at 61.7% ABV, yielding 263 bottles in total.
Keeping in line with their other releases, 5% of profits from Union go to Globice for the conservation of whales & cetaceans in Réunion.
Appearance
Gold, medium viscosity
Nose
Vanilla, butterscotch, candied walnuts, nutmeg
Palate
Vanilla, butterscotch, floral honey, nutmeg, salted walnuts
Finish
Medium length, nutty, tannic; vanilla, nutmeg, salted nuts, hint of sunflower seed
Rating: 7/10
Summary
For those like me that do not get many chances to try Savanna's rum– much less their molasses-based rum– this is a real treat. Union is a solid rum with traditional "rummy" notes, but won't require you to think very hard.
Vanilla, butterscotch, and candied/salted nuts are the prevailing notes I get while sipping Union. Nutmeg also pops up typically as a trailing flavor, while a floral honey appears in the middle of the palate. The finish is nutty and tannic, and features more of the same, with a touch of sunflower seeds to cap things off.
Sometimes, the highest proof, most esters, or longest aging are not needed to make a rum stand out. I think Union proves this perfectly, offering a consistent, enjoyable dram you can be sure you'll enjoy every time you crack open the bottle.