Rhum JM VSOP 4-Year

Overraskende god, jeg plejer ellers ikke at være så meget til agricole, men denne her er ok.

In Italian and English.

Rum agricolo, invecchiato per 3 anni in botti di rovere ricarbonizzate, che contenevano Bourbone, per poi fare una finitura in barrique nuove di rovere americano. È un buon distillato, garantito anche dalla AOC (Appellation d'origine contrôlée) Martinique, non molto complesso, ma che dovrebbe costare forse un po' meno.

All'olfatto: abbastanza intenso con prevalenti note agrumate ed erbacee tipiche dei Rum agricoli; subito dopo, facendo svampare un po' l'alcool, si avvertono note più morbide di chiodi di garofano e leggera vaniglia.

Al gusto: chiaramente prevalgono da subito le note erbacee ed amarognole tipiche degli agricoli, subito smorzate da una nota più morbida ma leggera di cocco, vaniglia e di legno. Il finale è medio e la bocca resta pulita.

Rum con una complessità media ma di buona fattura, adatto a chi si vuole avvicinare ai Rum agricoli, che per esprimere il massimo delle loro qualità dovrebbero avere un invecchiamento che va dai 3 ai 7 anni al massimo.

Consiglio per tutti: quando annusate un rum (o qualsiasi distillato), prima di inserire il naso e inspirare, effettuate un leggero soffio nel bicchiere e subito dopo provate a sentire i profumi. Questa operazione serve a svampare un po' la potenza dell'alcool che altrimenti vi porterebbe a bruciare nel naso e ad anestetizzare il vostro olfatto.

Provate a berlo prima da solo, poi dopo aver mangiato del cioccolato fondente (dal 70 all'85% max), ed infine dopo aver mangiato una mezza fetta di arancia fresca (compresa buccia è importante) con dello zucchero di canna sopra. ;-)

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Agricultural rum, aged for 3 years in reclaimed oak barrels, which contained Bourbone, and then finished in new American oak barrels. It is a good distillate, also guaranteed by the AOC (Appellation d'origine contrôlée) Martinique, not very complex, but that should probably cost a little less.

On the nose: quite intense with prevalent citrus and herbaceous notes typical of the agricultural Rum; immediately afterwards, causing the alcohol to flare a little, there are softer notes of cloves and light vanilla.

On the palate: the herbaceous and bitter notes typical of the agricultural produce immediately prevail, immediately dampened by a softer but light note of coconut, vanilla and wood. The finish is medium and the mouth remains clean.

Rum with a medium complexity but well-made, suitable for those who want to approach the agricultural Rum, which to express the maximum of their quality should have an aging ranging from 3 to 7 years at most.

Advice for everyone: when you smell a rum (or any distillate), before inserting the nose and inhaling, make a slight puff in the glass and immediately afterwards try to smell the perfumes. This operation serves to arouse a bit 'the power of alcohol that otherwise would lead you to burn in the nose and to anesthetize your sense of smell.

Try to drink it first alone, then after eating dark chocolate (70 to 85% max), and finally after eating a half slice of fresh orange (including peel is important) with some brown sugar on top. ;-)

Time for Birka’s rumcruise 2019 at the Baltic Sea. This one was included at Ian Burrell’s “Blindtaste” Master class. It was quite easy to get it right, cause it was the only Agricole included. I think it’s quite alike the XO but with a little less of everything. So it’s maybe an even better Agricole to start with if you want to start a tour in the Agricole world.
Picture: The rums included at the blindtest.

The pallete doesn't fit in with the aromas or finish, otherwise this would be really nice! On the nose you get cherry cola, with vanilla coming out more as it airs. In the mouth however, it's just wood and grass, with a slightly hot and oily feel. I don't really know how the aromas and taste can differ so drastically, but they clearly find a way! Then on the finish, there are creamy notes of vanilla, marshmallow and raisin. Should I find myself in the mood for agricole, I would happily turn to this bottle. It's just that with so many more frankly more enjoyable non-ag rums out there, I don't see myself ever pining for agricole, which really makes the previous statement moot.

As others have noted, there is a distinct peppery note in this agricole, and the oak is very upfront. Behind that lies the grassiness of a traditional agricole. Not as balanced as I was expecting, but I certainly wouldn't turn down a 'ti punch vieux made with this juice.

Nice and classic agricole with pleasant aftertaste.

Rum festival cardiff! Decent agricole fresh and tasty. 4 year old

The nose reveals just barely notes of grass, cane juice and caramelised fruit amongst a quite strong presence of oak that is diversified with some clove and ginger.

The palate leaves you wondering for just the split of a second wether it is a Calvados or a cognac brut, but then the unmistakable grassy, sweet cane juice aroma comes through. Quite long aftertaste of spice and oak with hints of caramelised apple.

It is absolutely a decent and “correct” VSOP, but aged agricoles are expensive and this is not for entry level candidates. A friend of mine with a quite well trained palate but little experience with rhum agricole was bewildered as to what he was drinking. If you want to sip an agricole I would try some XO or rare vintages. Or try to make an old fashioned with this one a couple of times, perhaps also a knickerbocker or something, before revisiting it straight.

At 86 proof it comes on a bit hotter than you would expect. To me it tastes more like a whiskey than a rum. Enjoyable neat, and a couple drops of water don’t hurt.

Nez : équilibré, jolies notes boisées et vanillées, cela évoque quelques notes pâtissières au café notamment. On retrouve l'odeur du tabac à pipe frais. C'est gourmand et prometteur.

Bouche: le boisé prend le dessus avec le tabac, les notes fruités sont franchement en retrait.

La finale est persistante, puissante avant de s'estomper sur cette agréable note de tabac.
Origine Martinique, AOC.