Holmes Cay Single Cask Rum South Africa Mhoba SAWP
Rum | 700mL | 59% ABV (118 proof) | Aged 6 Years — Holmes Cay Single Cask Rum South Africa Mhoba SAWP is the peated-cask counterpart to the SAW edition: distilled in 2018 at Mhoba Rum Distillery in Malalane, South Africa, and aged six years in ex–South African PEATED whisky casks before bottling uncut at 118 proof. SAWP = South Africa Whisky Peated. Only 474 bottles exist. Available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor in San Diego, CA.
Same foundation as the SAW edition — 100% fresh-pressed estate cane juice, ambient-yeast fermentation, high-reflux pot stills — but the peated casks add a completely different layer: grilled sweet bell pepper and rich cane on the nose; salted caramel, mocha, marmalade, and tobacco on the palate; a finish with light smoke. Non-chill filtered, no sugar, no color, no additives. Drinkhacker gave it a B (Nov 2025) — "a flavor combination I haven't come across before."
Tasting notes
Nose: grilled sweet (yellow) bell pepper and rich cane (Holmes Cay). Palate: salted caramel, mocha, marmalade, tobacco. Finish: light smoke.
Why buy it from Del Mesa Liquor
- 700mL, 59% ABV (118 proof) — distilled 2018, aged 6 years in ex–South African peated whisky casks
- Only 474 bottles — a Holmes Cay exclusive single-cask release
- Additive-free: non-chill filtered, no sugar, no coloring
- Available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor
How to serve it
Serve neat — the peat-and-rum combination is unlike anything else in the rum world. A splash of water tames the 118 proof and lifts the caramel.
Frequently asked questions
What does SAWP stand for?
South Africa Whisky Peated — the edition aged in ex–South African peated whisky casks, counterpart to the non-peated SAW.
How many bottles were produced?
474 bottles total, per the official Skurnik/Holmes Cay sell sheet — a Holmes Cay exclusive.
How old is this rum?
Distilled in 2018, aged 6 years at Mhoba Rum Distillery, Malalane, South Africa.
Is it cask strength?
Yes — 59% ABV (118 proof), non-chill filtered, with no added sugar or coloring.