Mhoba Rum Distillery - The Shaldon High Ester Overproof Rum 700ml

The Shaldon High Ester White Rum marks a significant milestone for spirit enthusiasts in the United States. Brought to you by Windyside Spirits, the team behind Holmes Cay, this is the first release to carry the Mhoba distillery label in the American market. Produced on a family estate in the Mpumalanga province of South Africa, this overproof spirit defines the category of high ester rum. It is named after the distiller who created the blend, Shaldon Englebrecht.

The production process is strictly artisanal. Founder Robert Greaves uses self-designed equipment to crush hand-harvested Nzikomi sugarcane. The fresh juice undergoes a long fermentation using wild airborne yeasts. This native fermentation creates a liquid teeming with flavor before it ever touches the copper pot stills. The final spirit is a blend of single and double-distilled marks, bottled at a robust 63 percent alcohol by volume.

In the glass, The Shaldon is an explosion of tropical fruit. The nose offers rich aromas of butterscotch and ripe papaya. On the palate, the high ester profile shines with vibrant notes of fresh banana, candied apple, and mango lassi. Despite its high proof, it finishes with a creamy texture featuring hints of vanilla and light treacle. This is pure sugarcane juice rum at its most expressive. It stands as a bold choice for collectors and a powerful base for cocktails that demand character.