The Rum MHOBA Pot Stilled High Ester
MHOBA Pot Stilled High Ester is a white rum with a high alcohol content, made with sugar cane, but with long fermentation and the addition of dunder, which is a yeast-rich foam created on the surface of the fermentation tanks. The slower distillation enhances the freshness and the raw material.
The Tasting
This run is transparent and brilliant; the aroma is very grassy with notes of ripe tropical fruit; full-bodied and enveloping on the palate, the flavour is rich; you can perceive the spicy pumpkin, black pepper, turmeric, tropical fruit and lemons. In the persistent finish, you find a slightly balsamic taste and the sugar cane.
It is a shame to use this rum to create cocktails; we recommend tasting MHOBA Pot Stilled High Ester neat with ice combined with dark chocolate.
The Mhoba Rum Distillery and its history
We are in South Africa; the distillery takes its name “Mhoba” (which in the local dialect means sugar cane) from the Greaves family estate, who have been growing sugar cane since the 80s.
We are close to the Makhonwja mountains, near Malalane, the most important sugar cane production area in South Africa. The idea of a distilling run came to Robert, the owner’s son; after studying mechanical engineering and gaining experience abroad, he returned home and tried to develop a dream.
As a mechanical engineer, Robert built himself everything necessary (even the stills); in 2013, he produced his first rum. In 2015, he obtained the license to run on a commercial scale, and we can say the distillery’s climb to success began.
Interestingly, MHOBA produces pure Agricole-style single-origin rum from sugar cane juice and not molasses like other distilleries do, but using only organic sugar cane grown on the estate.
Robert describes his rum as pure and unique, and it can be compared to a single malt whisky. Mhoba Rum is handcrafted in a still without adding colourings, flavourings or sugar.