Neisson Blanc 50

So it occurred to me recently that I never actually reviewed Neisson Blanc even though I have had it sitting on my bar for a while. It is widely considered one of the best Agricole Blanc rums around and it famously makes one hell of a Ti Punch. But what about solo? Is it good enough to sip straight on its own. You are damn right it is! Here’s my notes and experience with it solo.

The nose on this Agricole Blanc is pleasant but not terribly complex. The strongest note that stands out is fresh green olives. Past that I get lime peel, sweet and sour pickle juice, fresh sugar cane stalk, and a fascinating, refreshing smell like that of a hayfield covered in dew in the early morning. This rum is all about a sense of refreshment. But the comparatively toned down nose belies what awaits on the palate.

When I take a sip I get an absolute explosion of fresh washed fruit. Imagine biting into an entire handful of blueberries and fresh strawberries. Then take a hefty mouthful of limeade to wash it down. Now peel and eat a lychee while simultaneously thinking about grapefruit. As you are finishing those thoughts, you know that distinct taste that green chili peppers have right before the burn hits? Now wrap all of that together in one mouthful. That’s what this fantastic Agricole is on the palate. The thought that first came to me as I took my first sip was a “fresh fruit explosion”
. The palate here is nothing short of magnificent.

Interestingly and unexpectedly for an unaged rum (in my experience thus far) this Agricole Blanc has a long finish in store as well. It starts with hints of fresh sugar cane stalk which lingers quite a while before slowly transitioning to menthol. After a while my mouth tingles with a peppermint taste and sensation. It’s almost like chewing a fruity peppermint gum...but it is orders of magnitude better than that.

While most, including myself, might recommend this in a Ti Punch, it is just as tasty all by itself. It is perhaps the most refreshing rum I have had to date and well worth a sip on its own. At ~$30 for 1 Liter this is an absolute steal if you can find it. Amazing value.

Short Deacription: Strawberry-Blueberry-Limeade blast finished by peppermint fruit gum dialed to up on max

Nose: Fresh Green olives, fresh sugar cane stalk, lime peel, sweet and sour pickles, dew laden grass

Palate: very fresh, amazing palate! strawberries, blueberries, limeade, lychee, faint grapefruit, fresh green chili peppers prior to the burn,

Finish: fresh sugar cane stalk, menthol, peppermint mouth tingle

Country of Origin: Martinique

Distillery: Thieubert-Carbet

ABV: 50%

My first agricole was Clement Blanc which surprised me with how grassy a rum can get. I wanted an even more vegetal rum and found this and damn. This one makes no apologies for its huge personality.

If you don't like rum from the sugar cane juice, and only like those distilled from molasses, avoid. Flavor is clean, smooth.

Pour le ti’punch martiniquais : classique sans surprise, mais toujours aussi bon

Super smooth at 50% abv. Nice cane, pine, and jasmine on the pallet.

Le rhum blanc agricole de Martinique que je préfère sec ou en ti-punch, vraiment excellent!

Good Agricole Rhum. Good sugar cane taste and intense and flavoured scent. Ideal for ti punch, mojito and other cocktails

I'm not a big Neisson guy but the more I drink this one the better it gets. While definitely not a La Mauny or Père Labat, it's a solid contender and would be absolutely fine for any Ti'Punch.

If you’re not an agricole fan, an unaged spirit like Neisson probably isn’t your jam. However, if you are an agricole fan then this is a fantastic choice: warm jam, grass, green banana on the nose and plenty of funk once tasted. Great stuff