Takamaka from Trois Freres Distillery has added Napa Laz, a rum made purely from unaged Seychelles sugar cane, to its Le Clos collection
Seychelles-based rum maker Takamaka has unveiled the latest addition to its luxury Le Clos collection, Napa Laz. Made from a blend of 100% unaged Seychelles sugar cane rums, just 408 bottles of the new African rum will be available in select markets beginning this month.
Takamaka’s limited-edition Le Clos range often comes from a single or a couple of casks with nothing added and nothing taken away, and each expression serves as an example of the finest Seychellois rum. Made entirely with non-hybrid cane varieties sourced from farmers local to the distillery, Napa Laz is a blend of unaged rums that looks to capture the pure essence of Seychelles sugar cane.
The installation of two new stills in 2023–one large 1000-liter still for the initial distillation and a versatile 450-liter hybrid still for refining the spirit–has given Takamaka the capability to customize the distillation process, utilizing the adjustable copper column on the smaller still to experiment with different settings and fine-tune the flavors, controlling the temperature during fermentation and distilling the wash with all its natural yeast remnants.
Firstly, a slow double distillation using the traditional pot still captures the complex character of the sugar cane, known as the ‘heart’, before the ‘heads’ and ‘tails’ from the previous two years are re-distilled to create what is known at the Trois Freres Distillery as the ‘third heart’. When blended with the vibrant and intense flavor of the ‘hearts’ from the current harvest, this ‘third heart’ brings a depth and complexity resulting in a unique spirit.
The strength of the liquid is gently lowered using the distillery’s own spring water source to a rich 53.4% ABV over a number of weeks. As with other Le Clos rums, Napa Laz avoids the use of any additives, including sugar, and isn’t subjected to charcoal or chill filtration.
“Craftsmanship and curiosity is at the core of everything we do here at Takamaka, and our Le Clos series is where we really challenge ourselves to push the boundaries and allow our palates to guide us in new and exciting directions,” says co-founder Bernard d’Offay. “The creation of Le Clos Napa Laz has been a journey in exploring this curiosity and we are proud to deliver this exceptional liquid to the world and showcase everything Seychellois rum can be.”
On the nose, the rum offers aromas of freshly cut grass, spicy green peppercorn, bright citrus, and exotic fruit, with an underlying hint of earthy flint. The palate features a robust profile of esters and volatile substances creating a lively mineral punch with an assertive fruity roundness sitting alongside savory sourdough and a dash of umami. The finish lingers with hints of green peppercorn and that initial flinty, mineral note.
The brand recommends enjoying the rum straight or on ice.
Takamaka Le Clos Napa Laz rum can be found priced around €60 in France, Belgium, Slovakia, Germany, UK, Italy, Latvia, Sweden, Poland, Hungary, Netherlands, and Spain. For more information, head over to the brand’s official website.
Le Clos isn’t the only limited-edition collection from Takamaka, which released the St André Series back in 2022.
