J. Bally Paille

Un petit rhum sans prétention qui est très bien en daiquiri, ou autre préparation

Enjoyed a bottle of J. Bally Rhum Paille Agricole just before New Years. Nice bottle and label design. Yellow color. Very strong alcohol and oak to your nose and palate. Strong burn, so better mix this one.

Disclaimer: The bottle I sampled was older, and I have been able to find no mention of it whatsoever on the interwebz. I selected the Paille because it does say that on the shoulder label (which J Bally no longer uses). The main label simply reads "Rhum Agricole Matinique / J.Bally / Plantation Lajus Carbet / 50% vol. Note that this is higher than the 40–45% I've seen for comparable, modern releases. In addition, the color was a shade or two darker than this "paille". Onward...

This is among the best agricoles I've ever tasted. Both the nose and palate were strong and complex, with grass, brine, wood, and caramel in perfect balance. Perhaps its extended time in an open bottle allowed it to oxidize to perfection (savoring it for the better part of an hour, it didn't evolve too much in the glass).

It's probably an 8+, but I so enjoyed my time with it (more so than the Pyramide 12) that it's joining the ranks of the 9s. Cheers!

Le rhum ambré est une spécialité de la maison Bally.
il est d'une belle couleur dorée.
Le nez est plutôt fruité, typique des rhums blancs.
En bouche l'alcool est présent. Le goût est plutôt vif, il manque la rondeur du rhum vieux. On retrouve la finale de canne, typique des rhums de Martinique.
Je le préfère avec du coca.