La Favorite Coeur de Canne Blanc 50

Like most Rhum Agricole Blanc on Martinique this Rhum is made from fresh pressed sugar cane juice, which is fermented and distilled on a column still on Martinique, and then stored in a steel tank and bottled at 50% ABV. Unlike most other Rhum Agricole these days, Distilerie La Favorite is one of the last two family owned distilleries in Martinique (the other being Neisson). This is their primary Agricole Blanc offering. So what does it offer?

Taking a whiff from the Glencairn I get immediately fresh cut Hay. I also get heavy Brine notes akin to seawater. Additionally, I get just the slightest hint of mineralogy like the smell of a new steel tank, followed by faint rubber cement glue. All in all the nose is pretty familiar for a Rhum Agricole Blanc. It is not as expressive as Neisson Blanc or the Clairins.

Taking a sip, at first I get heavy Chalk but this quickly dissipates and is replaced by the taste of both fresh cut Grass stems and simultaneously Dried Hay accompanied by notes of faint Rubber Cement Glue and Powdered Sugar. This is significantly more complex in the mouth than as imagined on the nose.

On the finish I get Cracked Black Peppercorns and fresh cut Grass stems. Short and simple. Long after I put the glass down I taste raw Snap Peas. Fascinating.

This is actually quite pleasant just to sit and sip neat which is really not something I had imagined I would be writing here. In fact, and this is strange to say, but this is tastier and more complex to sip straight than it is in a Tí Punch that I got it for.

Don’t get me wrong, it makes a decent enough Tí Punch. It’s not quite as expressive in the Tí Punch as I had hoped it would be, but it is not bad at all. Yet, somehow, it is actually more enjoyable just to drink straight up or over a tiny ice cube. It has an unexpected complexity on the palate and finish, that is unexpected from the nose and that is muted entirely in the Tí Punch.

Short Description: a subtly complex sipper masquerading under the disguise of a basic Tí Punch bar staple.

ABV 50%

Country of Origin: Martinique

Distillery: La Favorite

Nose: Fresh Cut Hay, Brine, New Steel Tank, slight Rubber Cement Glue

Palate: Chalk, faint Rubber Cement Glue, fresh Grass Stem, Dried Hay, faint Powdered Sugar

Finish: Cracked Black Peppercorns, fresh Grass, raw Snap Peas

Classic white agricole with fresshness and fruityness. Fine for Ti Punch

I bought this to compare to my first artisan cachaca (see my review on Novo Fogo Silver for comparisons) and also to find out how in hell the aroma of molasses comes through on rums distilled only from sugar cane juice. The aroma of molasses on this one is extremely faint and is outweighed by the floral and grassy tones. The taste has no trace of molasses at all, but still has floral and grassy notes. All I can say is that aromas of molasses may be a by-product of distilling sugar cane juice and varies in degree by brands.

Don't even think of using this to sip neat. It was meant for Ti Punch, like the kind that I downed multiple shots of on a party boat in Guadeloupe way back in 1989. If anything, this rhum will bring back some memories. As for Ti Punch, it is the only way to disguise the flavor of this rhum, which is equal parts rhum agricole blanc, lime juice, and simple syrup. The Brazilian caipirinha made from cachaca is similar except that it requires ice and Ti Punch does not. All this rhum was made for is a penalty free drunk by downing shots. If it were more readily available, then the Captain Morgan/Bacardi college crowd would gladly jump ship for this one. For those that hate added sugar, this one is for you!

Rhum très sucré. Dans un ti-punch limite la sucrosité présente suffit à elle même. Bon rhum d'entré à un tarif bas. 6,5.

Not to expect a classic rum taste or sweetness. Is different. An interesting nose of green grass and a green taste, too. Some citrus, some vanilla. No extra sugar.

Rhum plutôt agréable en bouche.Assez fruité. Je recommande en ti punch.

I tried this as part of a “French” tasting flight, and I couldn’t get past the burn to really appreciate the flavors. It’s definitely different from what I usually drink, so I feel like I want to give this type another shot at some point, but I just won’t try this one again (unless it’s maybe used as a mixer).

but, as it turns out, I can't stand agricole! I feel like the pungent grassiness is exactly what they're going for, but combined with the hot and extremely oily prune flavors that come across the mouth, this just is not a pleasant drink for me! I really don't want to rate this down with Captain Morgan because the difference in quality is night and day, but in terms of overall enjoyment, I think it's, unfortunately, an apt comparison.

This is wicked stuff - smells like wet cut grass, tastes like battery acid, but I suppose if you're French and this is what you grew up with...
I once tried making rum with a homemade still. It tasted just like this, I threw it out, I thought it was contaminated.

If you're used to molasses-based rum, you may find this stuff, which has zero molasses, shockingly offensive. The first time I tasted it I threw up a hairball. There is no amount of lime, sugar or mixer which can improve the flavor. It's unaged liquid grass, after all. You know, like what cows chew on all day. A lot of folks love unaged agricole rum but when it comes to this stuff, I have no love to give.