South African sugarcane, bourbon barrels and a healthy dose of Lowveld personality. Turns out we can do considerably more with sugarcane than put it in a Coke.
MHOBA Bourbon Cask Aged Rum is a premium, artisanal sugarcane juice rum produced at MHOBA Distillery near Malalane, Mpumalanga. Made entirely from freshly pressed Nkomazi sugarcane grown on the distillery's own estate, it showcases the remarkable depth and complexity that can be achieved through traditional pot-still distillation and oak maturation.
Unlike conventional molasses based rums, MHOBA begins with pure sugarcane juice, preserving the fresh, grassy and naturally fruity characteristics of the raw agricultural ingredient.
Maturation in ex-bourbon oak introduces a complementary richness, bringing together vanilla, caramel, toasted wood and warming spice with the more expressive, slightly funky character of the underlying cane spirit.
The result is a rum that bridges two rather enjoyable worlds: the familiar sweetness and oak influence appreciated by bourbon drinkers, and the vibrant, fruit-driven complexity sought after by serious rum enthusiasts.
Bottled at 48% ABV, MHOBA Bourbon Cask Aged is an excellent demonstration of why South African craft rum deserves considerably more attention.
Tasting Notes
Colour: Golden amber with warm copper highlights.
Nose: Fresh sugarcane and ripe tropical fruit lead into vanilla, toasted oak and caramel. Notes of banana, pineapple and gentle spice emerge alongside a subtle earthy, fermented character.
Palate: Rich and rounded, with vanilla, butterscotch and caramelised sugar balanced by grilled pineapple, ripe banana and warming oak spice. The natural cane character remains prominent, bringing a lively, slightly grassy complexity beneath the sweeter bourbon-cask influence.
Finish: Long and warming, with lingering vanilla, toasted oak, tropical fruit and a pleasantly dry, spicy conclusion.
Technical Details
Producer: MHOBA Rum Distillery Origin: Malalane, Mpumalanga, South Africa Category: Pure Sugarcane Juice Rum Raw Material: Estate-Grown Nkomazi Sugarcane Distillation: Artisanal Pot Still Maturation: Ex-Bourbon Oak ABV: 48% Bottle Size: 750ml Style: Bourbon Cask Aged Rum
Why It's Worth a Look
MHOBA has established itself as one of South Africa's particularly interesting craft rum producers, largely by refusing to follow the conventional molasses based rum playbook.
Everything begins with estate grown sugarcane, and the distillery's characterful pot still spirit provides an excellent foundation for oak maturation.
The bourbon cask influence adds a familiar layer of vanilla, caramel and spice without completely masking the tropical fruit and grassy intensity that make pure sugarcane juice rum so distinctive.
An excellent choice for whisky drinkers exploring aged rum, or rum enthusiasts looking for something with a distinctly South African identity.
Best enjoyed neat or with a few drops of water. Although we wouldn't object to a properly constructed Rum Old Fashioned either.
Delivery within South Africa:
All orders are delivered from our central warehouse located in Montague Gardens, Western Cape. Local orders are usually delivered in 0-2 working days. Orders outside of Cape Town but within SA are generally delivered within 2-5 working days. If you require expedited delivery, we now offer an Express delivery service, which typically takes 1-3 working days, depending on your area.
While we strive for timely deliveries, there are occasional instances where delays may occur. These are rare but can happen due to unforeseen circumstances.
Delivery Rates:
At checkout, you will be presented with delivery options and corresponding rates. These rates are provided directly by our courier partners and are displayed as is. On rare occasions, a courier may generate an incorrect delivery rate due to issues with the address recognition. In such cases, we will arrange for an alternative courier to deliver your order at a similar rate to the original cost.
We believe in offering transparency in our delivery fees and, as such, do not include any delivery costs in our product pricing. We do not profit from delivery fees.
Third-Party Couriers:
For the majority of our orders, we rely on third-party courier services for delivery. Regular notifications will be sent and on the day of delivery the couriers will notify you via sms, call or email . If the courier is unable to reach you, we will get in touch with you to arrange an alternative solution.
Please note, you will be required to sign upon delivery, and the drivers may request a form of identification.
If there is something wrong with your product, we will gladly issue a full refund of 100% of your purchase amount. To process this, please reach out to us at info@mothercityliquor.co.za as soon as possible, and we will guide you through the refund process.
Order Cancellations: If you need to cancel your order, simply email us at info@mothercityliquor.co.za, and we’ll assist you with the cancellation process. Please note, cancellations will incur a small fee of 10%, which covers the transaction fees we incur for processing each order. If your order has already been shipped, please be aware that the shipping fee is non-refundable.
Consignment Orders:
We do not offer consignment stock or consignment deals.
Returns:
If you find that there is an issue with your product, you are eligible to return it to us. Here’s how you can initiate the return:
Email us at info@mothercityliquor.co.za to notify us of your intent to return the product. We will then guide you through the process.
Our returns policy is valid for 7 working days from the date of delivery. Unfortunately, if 7 working days have passed since the delivery of your purchase, we cannot offer a refund or exchange.
To be eligible for a return, the item must be unused and in the same condition as when you received it. It must also be in its original packaging. A 10% Fee will be charged on returns, unless the product was damaged or incorrectly supplied by Mothercity Liquor.
Return Shipping & Delivery Fees
Please note that original shipping or delivery fees are non-refundable. Where a refund is approved, the refund will apply to the eligible returned product(s) only and will exclude any shipping or delivery charges paid on the original order.
Unless the return is due to an incorrect, damaged, or defective product supplied by Mothercity Liquor, the cost of returning the product(s) to us is the responsibility of the customer. Customers are responsible for arranging and paying for return shipping and for ensuring that the products are securely packaged to prevent damage in transit.
We strongly recommend using a trackable and insured courier service when returning products. Mothercity Liquor cannot be held responsible for returned goods that are lost or damaged while in transit to us.
Where Mothercity Liquor supplied an incorrect, damaged, or defective product, we will arrange or cover the reasonable cost of returning the affected product, subject to the terms of our Returns Policy.
Exceptions to Returns:
Sale or Special Offer Items: Only regular-priced items are eligible for a refund. Unfortunately, items purchased on sale or as part of a special offer cannot be refunded.
Subscription Terms & Conditions:
By purchasing a Subscription, you agree to recurring automatic payments based on your selected delivery frequency (monthly, every 2 months or every 3 months etc).
Your subscription will automatically renew and your payment method will be charged on the same calendar day as your original purchase until your subscription is cancelled.
Minimum Commitment: Subscription pricing includes a discounted rate and therefore requires a minimum commitment of two (2) deliveries. Cancellation requests will only be accepted after your second subscription box has been successfully delivered.
Cancellation requests must be submitted before your next billing date. If your payment has already been processed, that month's subscription will still be fulfilled and dispatched.
Subscription payments are non-refundable once they have been successfully processed, except where required by applicable South African consumer protection laws.
In the event that a product becomes unavailable, Mothercity Liquor reserves the right to substitute it with a product of equal or greater value.
Customers must be 18 years or older to purchase or receive alcoholic products.
