Habitation Velier Savanna HERR 2012
Habitation Velier · Savanna Distillery
Savanna's HERR (High Ester Réunion Rum) style is produced through an extended fermentation process that pushes ester counts into territory most distillers would consider extreme. Velier's Luca Gargano selected this cask for its balance of intensity and drinkability. Not for the faint-hearted, but for rum enthusiasts it represents a category edge worth exploring.
Nose
An intense opening of tropical fruit — overripe banana and mango — mingles with deep molasses and a touch of burnt rubber characteristic of grand arôme production. Coffee grounds and dark chocolate emerge with air. There's something almost fermented and funky, like aged balsamic.
Palate
Powerfully concentrated entry with muscovado sugar and roasted nut. The mid-palate brings leather and tobacco alongside a surprising citrus brightness. Despite the high proof, there is remarkable balance — the fusel character is integrated rather than aggressive.
Finish
Exceptionally long, with coffee, dried fruit, and a smoky, almost charred oak persistence.
- Base Ingredient
- Molasses (grand arôme)
- Distillation
- Column still distillation, grand arôme method with extended fermentation
- Country
- Réunion Island, France
Food Pairing
Dark chocolate tart with espresso ganache
Savanna Distillery, set on the volcanic slopes of Réunion Island in the Indian Ocean, produces grand arôme rums through extended fermentations that yield some of the most ester-rich spirits on earth.
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