Overview
Brand: Habitation Velier
Origin: Distillerie de Savanna, Cambuston, Saint-André, Réunion
Still: Pot
Age: Unaged
Finish: n/a
ABV: 62%
For our last entry in this unaged Habitation Velier journey, we fly east to the Indian Ocean and the isle of Réunion, where a highly flavorful, fan-favorite rum awaits.
Habitation Velier Savanna HERR is a pure single rum from the Savanna distillery in the town of Cambuston, using their pot still; this is notably a molasses-based rum, not from pressed sugarcane juice like the Mhoba and Renegade rums. The HERR marque indicates a delicate fermentation process that yields a rum containing an ester count of 225-500 g/hLAA. This was bottled unaged at 62% ABV.
For transparency, this bottle was provided to me by a brand representative, with no obligation other than to enjoy the rum.
Appearance
Clear, low viscosity
Nose
Bubblegum, fresh-cut pineapple, jackfruit, white pepper, post-rain cement, green bell pepper, rotting banana, white wine vinegar, fresh Bandaid
Palate
Bubblegum, grilled pineapple, strawberry yogurt, artificial banana, rice wine vinegar, cleaning agent, green bell pepper
Finish
Long, fruity, bright; bubblegum, permanent marker, strawberry yogurt, dish soap, overripe banana, touch of smoke
Rating: 8/10
Summary
This unaged HERR is everything I've come to expect from Réunion's high-ester powerhouse: bright, complex, and outrageously flavorful.
There are simply too many flavors and aromas to re-list, and each sip or sniff yields a different makeup. That said, HERR's bubblegum note stands out notably, with jackfruit, rotting banana, and vinegar also coming through in each stage of the experience. Bandaids, cleaning supplies, bell pepper, strawberry yogurt, and even a hint of smoke augment this core to provide a definitively complex rum.
This is a great rum for those who crave the extremes of the category, but not for the faint of heart. This voyage through Habitation Velier's unaged single rums has been a lot of fun, and I'm looking forward to seeing what comes next from the project.