First Impressions
The Moscatel companion to the Merisier, this expression takes seven-year-old rum initially aged in French oak and finishes it in Moscatel wine casks. The Moscatel influence brings a different character — grape sweetness and floral wine notes rather than the cherry of the Merisier.
Tasting Notes
The nose shows muscat grape sweetness immediately — aromatic and floral, with dried apricot and honey. Vanilla and floral wine notes provide elegance, and gentle oak anchors everything. It's a fragrant, appealing nose.
On the palate, grape sweetness leads, with honeyed richness and dried stone fruit adding depth. The floral complexity from the Moscatel cask is well-integrated, adding a dimension that you wouldn't find in bourbon-cask-only maturation. Oak tannins provide balance, and the overall impression is of a wine cask finish well-judged — present but not dominating.
The finish is medium-long, with grape sweetness and honey fading to a dry oak close.
How to Drink It
Neat, to appreciate the Moscatel influence. The grape and floral character also pairs beautifully with cheese — particularly aged gouda or manchego. Try it as a digestif after a meal.
The Bottom Line
New Grove Moscatel earns a 7 — another successful cask finish from this innovative Mauritian distillery. At £74.50, it matches the Merisier and offers a different but equally interesting flavour profile. Together, they make a compelling case for Mauritian rum's creativity.
