Canaoack

Canaoak is a rum brand produced by Grays Distillery in Mauritius. Founded in 1931, Grays is considered the oldest and largest distillery still operating on the island. The brand's name directly combines its two defining elements: "Cana" for sugar cane and "Oak" for the oak barrels in which the rum is aged.

A blend from three different origins

What sets Canaoak apart from traditional Mauritian rums is its transcontinental approach to blending. The Pure Blended Rum combines rums aged separately in three countries: 80% from Mauritius, 15% from Nicaragua and 5% from Panama. Each rum is aged for 4 to 8 years in American and French oak barrels before being blended under the supervision of the distillery's cellar master. This approach, closer to that of a merchant blender than a single-origin distillery, creates an aromatic profile drawing on several rum-making traditions rather than just one.

A smooth and spicy profile

The result is an amber rum bottled at 40% ABV, with aromas of mirabelle plum, honey and a touch of blond tobacco on the nose. On the palate, oak and spice come to the fore before giving way to notes of vanilla and caramel, followed by a lingering woody finish. Its rounded character makes it an approachable rum, equally suited to drinking neat or using in a cocktail, without the more pronounced rustic character sometimes found in distinctive single-origin rums.

How to enjoy Canaoak

Served neat, this rum is best enjoyed at room temperature in a tulip-shaped glass, which helps concentrate its honey and spice aromas. Its rounded character also makes it a good choice for classic aged-rum cocktails, where its natural sweetness reduces the need for added sugar.