Aroma visualization from community tastings
MHOBA Select Reserve French Cask Rum 2019
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Just one year in a French cask and it drinks like something far older — that's the shock here. Cane-juice funk meets Jamaican-style esters, dark bitter chocolate, leather and caramel, all wrapped in a dry, woody finish. Several tasters clocked it blind as a Caroni. The catch: at 65% the heat can jab, and the finish runs shorter than the nose promises.
The community says- Complex for its age
- Ester-driven funk
- Keep in mind: 65% Heat
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The look inside the bottle
How does MHOBA Select Reserve French Cask Rum 2019 taste?
From community reviews · summarized with AI
Wild, funky South African cane rum at cask strength Loved as one of the wildest, most complex Mhobas out there — funky, chocolatey and impressively mature for its age. A few find the alcohol under-integrated and the finish a touch short.
Aroma profileFans of high-ester cane funk and Caroni-style dirtiness
Anyone wanting a soft, low-ABV sipper
Style & occasion: Mature & oakyTropical & funkySipping neatCocktails & mixing
Full aroma profile Aroma families · nose & palate · top aromas
Relative to this rum's strongest aroma family
70 of 163 left detailed tasting impressions · Click an aroma to explore similar rums
Which glass for which rum? The community guide ›
Buying advice
Is it right for you?
Yes, if you're after bold, mature, oaky rums for sipping neat.
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What does the community say?
163 community reviews
Rating scale & review checks
On RumX, 7 means “Good” and 8 means “Very good”.
See the full rating guideHow ratings are made and how we check them ›The website shows a selection of written reviews. The distribution also includes ratings without text. All published reviews are available in the RumX app.
48 selected written reviews
The distribution above includes all 163 ratings, including those without text.
Review by Galli33
Most helpful positive review
This one is awesome! Cool mix of all the lovely mhoba notes, fresh notes, hay, some esters. The alcohol is intergrated well and has a great impact on it. The finish is quite long and quite woody-astringend. Very harmonious for this young age.
Review by Wernie
Most helpful mixed review
What a blast, and that after just one year of aging. It clears your nose.😀 An ester/fruit bomb and on the palate then the heavy wooden club that was too close to the campfire. The 65 degrees can't be hidden and hit hard, but the finish is quite short.
Review by crazyforgoodbooze
Mega rocket stuff. Top price-performance ratio and also great in a mai tai or rum sour with red wine float! Absolutely terrific how smooth, complex and delicious it is at only 2y and 65%. For me, one of the best mhoba rums on the market for years.
Review by Christian Rudt
I have blind tasted actually held for much older. Found him rather dirty and clearly older and have him somewhere sorted in the direction of Caroni. From nut nougat cream I noticed today nix, that comes only now slowly😅Evaluation has only confirmed. Great what great rums are still being re-bottled today 🙂 One year aging. 65%. Gross. Nut nougat cream (no advertising) aromas, banana, pineapple. Ester slightly less than on the nose. A dry and exceedingly complex finish.I repeat One year aging. For this just VERY GOOD
Review by Timo Groeger
Wow, a really great Mhoba here. The nose is definitely very woody, and traces of ester can also be detected. The palate is also quite woody, with light notes of caramel, agricole and leather. Alcohol perfectly integrated. Super.
Review by zabo
Mhoba Night For me the craziest of the ones I tried today. Edit: After trying a few more from Mhoba, I think this is one of the best that has been bottled. The others didn't really convince me.
Review by jonathan.p🇫🇷
A powerful nose in the solvents, the wood, then in mouth it takes all the papillae at once! Immediately chocolate, then spices, leather with a vegetable side. It is still strong! I then tried with a dash of water or I can identify the banana to caramel. I find the end funky in the spices. It is for me very successful! But we can feel too much the 65%!
Review by Chrischi78
An extremely exciting and intense nose - rich in esters, yet somewhat more bitter and chocolaty than typical Jamaican rums. Notes of leather and caramel are added on the palate. The finish is long, warm and persistent, with a hint of coconut at the end. A great mhoba!
Review by Kevin Sorensen 🇩🇰
#5292 01.05.2025 Running some samples while watching the TV Series "Reacher". Nose Round, medium intense, fruity, orange, light caramel, light cinnamon, light wood. Palate Oily, fresh, round, medium intense, light wood, fruity, light orange, light cinnamon, light raisin, light tobacco. Finish Medium to long, light wood, light orange, light tobacco, light chocolate, light cardamom. Empty glass Vanilla, light cinnamon, orange, light dried fruit, light chocolate.
Review by Martin Augustin
A very interesting and intense aroma hits you. Lots of Esther, just a little more bitter and chocolaty than the Jamaican. Leather and caramel are added in the mouth. Long, warm finish. A little coconut at the end. Great mhoba.
Review by Righrum
Not so good, Sharp in taste, it's typical Mhoba but with some negative traits especially some bitterness. Usual mix of esters and wood/caramel, with almost no effect from the french cask maybe due to the young age of the rum.
Review by MarcT
First Tasting here: This one is the better of the two Mhoba I am just tasting. Creamy, fruity, complex, very well integrated alcohol... First thing when tasting was "hm, rotten apples", but never got why. Interesting. I has something it's Sibling does not have, which I attribute to the French Cask, and it improves the Rum. Very good. Second Tasting: still good, still better. Putting it on my wishlist...
Review by Gregor
After I tried the white overproof from the distillery and was thrilled I saw that this one was inside in the calendar of the Rum Club. So bottle opened and app opened. And what can I say. In the smell it reminded me strongly of a blend of Barbados (glue) and Jamaica (ester). In the taste then but dry with typical things like caramel and chocolate with a small touch of Agricole. So the distillery I will definitely keep an eye on really nice things that come out of South Africa
Review by Serge
Tasted with Habitation Velier. I gave the HV although one point more, because the alcohol is better eingwbunden in my opinion and he also comes along a little creamier and fatter. However, these two are really very close to each other and do not give each other much in terms of taste. Noteworthy when you consider that the here was only 2 years in the barrel. For me, the PLV winner but still a close Punlt behind. Both more than worthwhile 😍
Review by Tim
Quite offensive smell with ester at the beginning. After a while in the glass, the alcohol then fades and more floral and caramel notes shine through. Then the chocolate takes over. Very complex! A mix of Jamaica and Agricole?! Very spicy, sharp and dry in the mouth, with mostly dark bitter chocolate lingering. 65% I find too violent, which is why I add some water. Special rum experience, definitely!
Review by Tschusikowsky
Rum X Easter 19.4.22: Very challenging the thing. In the nose I find the little appealing. At the beginning very one-dimensional. With time, more but very special scents come to it. Wood, roast, chocolate, soapy, copper, metallic. Later floral notes, discreet hemp🤔 tobacco and cardboardIn the mouth then woody, blackberry, green apple, red fruit, melon, chocolate, spice, tobacco. Finish very dry, kiwi, dirty notes.I have no idea what this profile is. At first I thought it must be something French, since the ABV is relatively low in relation to the power in the mouth and finish.After a little thought I go out on a limb and claim that it is a low-volume and also younger (10/12 years) Caroni 🙃
Review by Jussi Piirainen
On the nose: Fresh, mellow intensity. Interesting combination of ester, sugarcane and dark fruits/grapes coming from the red wine cask. Taste: Woody,spicy,peppery, roasted and agricole notes. Some sweetness from caramel. Mouthfell is creamy and dry. Overripe pineapple notes here and there. Nicely balanced. Finish: Dry, chocolate notes, woody notes. Quite complex finish. Medium-long finish. Absolutely lovely. Very balanced and rich. Good cask choice.
Review by Émile Shevek
On the nose vinegar, but canned, roasted/toasted, fruit (banana and citrus), matured, solvent and a touch of sake. On the palate solvent, garlic, but canned, chocolate, fruit and spicy forest. Finish not very persistent, spicy, with some esters and chestnuts. Unfortunately, it is not the kind of profile I like to drink in an agricole, if it weren't for the taste of garlic it would have easily scored over 75, degustibus.
Review by Joe95
A pure powerful cane juice. The nose joins the mouth without surprise. The esters are well present. A unique rum which is really out of the ordinary. The length is a bit short. A bit young but very nice for the price.
Review by Joël
Unbelievable what has already been achieved here with just one year of maturation. Top! Always a pleasure in a glass. I'm not usually a fan of woody flavors, but I don't mind them here. Alcohol perfectly integrated.
Review by Djehey
Tasted again 2 years later. Uh... Is it really the same rum ??? It's just a ball ! We drink a flamed caramelized tire!
Review by Boletus
Mhoba simply makes great distillates. I am always impressed by how full-bodied and creamy these very young rums develop in the mouth, without being stingy with esters. The red wine influence is only subtly present here and only really comes through very late in the long, dry finish. Very tasty!
Review by Skyfly
Nice Mhoba with significantly more fruit content than expected. From nose to finish primarily woody and caramel-heavy, this rum shows very different nuances. Tropical fruits, dark chocolate and black tea shape the fine notes here - simply delicious.
Review by Johannes
Really fun! Beautiful esters that go in the direction of Jamaica, but at the same time a fruit basket of an Agricole.
Review by Rumeumel
Just my purely personal impression here. My preferred styles are Guyana and Foursquare. Because this rum was so highly praised and supposedly matches 83% according to RumX, I had to buy a bottle. Unfortunately, it’s not really my cup of tea. You can tell it’s actually young and that the fermentation process brought out a lot of esters. For me, it’s too intense and sometimes unpleasantly ester-heavy. If you prefer round and friendly sippers, I think you shouldn’t go for this one. With the high ABV, you also quickly notice how it affects you neurologically quite fast. I could imagine it as an overproof mixer quite well, but we won’t be friends. So, after some time, ashes on my head. At first, I found this guy a bit rough, but as is often the case, after tasting it again it’s noticeably more pleasant. Wood and esters are relatively harmonious. The only criticism might be the alcohol isn’t 100% integrated. But definitely a big upgrade.
Review by Frank
This Mhoba comes pleasantly fresh to the nose, have as first lemon balm and caution some currant, plus clearly nail polish remover. Behind the lemony also resonates a caramel sweetness paired with soft chestnut. I find something green, herbal, spicy-woody. Interesting on the palate. I do have clear esters at first, followed by herbs and caramel. In fruit, I find date and plum. It follows something covered fruit bread and gingerbread, then again something towards saffron or sesame.In the finish grassy and lovage Really tasty and good!
Review by Thunderbird
And again another flavor profile..a very spicy intense Mhoba, very tasty! If the alcohol would be a little better integrated he would have earned a better rating
Review by Filip Šikula
My first experience with mhoba, my first fresh juice and I felt like I bought a bottle that was spoiled. I didn't let go and tried 2cl every week, and once I tried it with other sugercans I found it was actually very good.
Review by Jan Riha
Super rum with a long finish, which warms and is terribly mild for a strength of 65
Review by Roman Lelek
My wife said - is it still rum or you drink something else? The nose - full of esters and by that I mean a lot. Then fruits and woody tones. It reminds me Jamaica young white rums. The pallet - thanks to esters very complex- warm with tones of apricots, wood and even if it has 60% it’s not rough..but very nice balance. Personal note - if you want to try something different than you drink normally, then go for it. I agree with others in comments - one of greatest Mhoba rums, looking forward next one.
Review by Adrien B
Beautifully indulgent while being exuberant. Made me think of a Fiji with that new leather side, fresh and heavy at the same time, brought by the cask, morello cherry. Very very nice.
Review by Michael Janek
The scent has to wait until the alcohol evaporates, then you can smell a gentle vanilla. After drinking, strong onset, but then it fades and a sweet taste. It's good to keep it in your mouth and wait until it starts to show - massacre. Warning - then sniff the empty glass.
Review by Harald
Smell: Fruit esters at first, then surprisingly sweet and mild with sandalwood, grassy sugarcane and caramel aromas. Taste: Creamy mild in the mouth with a slight sweetness and fruity mango aromas. Then it gets sharper and more alcoholic. When swallowing very spicy and dry. Woody with caramel notes. Finish: Medium length, dry, spicy and woody. Like over-steeped black tea, therefore also slightly bitter. Conclusion: Delicious! But after the two white rums from Mhoba I expected even more. It's a bit too spicy and not fruity enough for me.
Review by DUBOIS Arnaud
At first, there's a strong nail polish note; after airing, you find a pure juice rum with big indulgence. My favorite Mhoba.
Review by John Coffey
Not for everyone. The chocolate side is a success but the alcohol is poorly integrated.
Review by Piotr Ignasiak
I love the strong Agricole base of this paired with a funky package. Very round for the age.
Review by Stefan L
260321: Great Mhoba and I got to taste it again at Jockes place.
Review by Lot-NAS
A really nice Mhoba. Not too complex but on the other hand there are no off-Notes either. I couldn’t find their typical banana which I really love but nevertheless I find this dram really smooth and balanced and even better than the 2019FC3 I just recently emptied.
Review by Lukáš Jarník
Silný nástup následne jemné. Dobrá chuť
Review by Ian Gilman
An amazing expression from South Africa. Wow with the funny brininess that I love and some chocolate or sweetness.
Review by julie
A Mhoba bomb! An explosion of flavour, fruit, dark bitter chocolate, grass?! Very funky on the edge of being overdate… it’s definitely one of the wildest rums I have ever tried and need some more time to process this one.
Review by Tomáš Jankovský
Beautiful strong South African rum. Agricole with a whiff of sugar cane and wood. The taste is spicy and chocolate melts on the tongue.
Review by ElReyTristan
Very interesting nose, funky, quite a bit of ester, exotic fruits especially banana. On the palate you find the funky almost Hampden side that I love, the alcohol is rather well integrated even though it really kicks. Just a pity that the length on the palate is rather short and not too elaborate. This reflects its age a bit more than the very flattering nose compared to its youth.
Review by Rum man
This is - for me - the great South African beast! It seems like a mix of a funky Jamaican and an agricole. The flavours shift from the one profile into the other. I don’t get as much fruits as others but I understand it given the Jamaican reference I made. Top tip, let this puppy (beast) breathe a bit because it can come across as quite alcoholic.
Review by Moss Cail
Excellent base with raw charred wood top note.
Review by Ondrej Czinege
Sharper but after a while the taste spreads out - whipped cream
Review by ThiloTSC
Very pleasant & interesting solvent note, salty-sweet with cumin, soy sauce, tomato extract & black pepper, TOP integrated alcohol, short dry finish
Review by Vít Jurka
Dobre trochu vanilka ocasek
This selection contains no written reviews in this rating range.
Expert reviews
Reviews from RumX's blog partners, independent experts who have tasted, evaluated, and described this rum.
Expert review by Single Cask Rum
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Expert review by Rum Diaries Blog
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MHOBA Select Reserve French Cask Rum 2019 at live auctions
A bid is not a final price: the house sets the buyer's premium, shipping and any customs duty.
All live auctions ›Community shelf
140 bottles logged by 128 collectors.
A drinker's rum.
37% opened, 19 emptied.
What does MHOBA Select Reserve French Cask Rum 2019 cost?
Community paid 76–117 €.
Current best price: 104.36 € – within the typical community range.
Purchase prices reported by members, not a shop price. Avg. 99 €. Full price & collection history in RX+ ›
+20 additions in the last 3 months.
Additions per month over the last 12 months; dark bars: the last 3.
140 purchased · 167 tasted · 142 wishlist · as of
Details about MHOBA Select Reserve French Cask Rum 2019
A Pot Still Rum from South Africa, distilled by MHOBA, at 65%.
About the MHOBA distillery
The MHOBA distillery is located in South Africa. Rums from MHOBA have been reviewed 2,534 times with an average of 8.2/10.
To MHOBA ›Read on in the RumX Guide
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