Classic French style Rhum, smooth for its young age 56.6 % alcohol with pleasant vegetale flavors. Bottle 70 out of 350 so angels didn’t take too much. Slight cognac notes. Might not be exact bottle this is Cask collection 3 year Bourbon cask. Likely very similar.
Pertinent label notes:
Clement Cask Collection
Rhum Agricole Vieux
No du fût (Barrel #): 20000027
No de la bouteille (Bottle #): 293/406
Origine des fûts (Cask type): Bourbon
Date de mise en vieilissement (Distilled/barreled): 01/03/2012 (March 2012)
Date de mise en bouteille (Bottled): 29/07/2016 (July 2016; 4y 4m in oak)
Maître de chais (Cellar master): R. Peronet
Alc. 44.4% by vol.
Exclusively Selected by Cask (a fancy SF Bay Area liquor store)
What an agricole! I tried this at a friend's house, and as soon as I smelled it, I had to redefine the category for myself (yet again). I've even tried many Clements, but nothing at all like this. It's bursting with fruit aromas—cherry and pineapple, with hints of anise and cardamom. The nose is round (fruity) and sharp (tart, spicy) at the same time. I don't even particularly care for this fruit combo delivered on the nose (though I suspect others would LOVE it)... but I've never smelled any rum like this before (though I find similarities between this and Last Ward as well as some Hampdens); it's captivating.
The taste is a bit more typical; it's like a fruity Clement. Still very dry and somewhat bitter, with a long, spicy finish.
It makes a delightful Ti' Punch; I occasionally would cut it with an edgier agricole blanc like La Favorite or Neisson.
Sad to finish this bottle; still debating what to replace it with...
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Close enough 7 out of 10
Classic French style Rhum, smooth for its young age 56.6 % alcohol with pleasant vegetale flavors. Bottle 70 out of 350 so angels didn’t take too much. Slight cognac notes. Might not be exact bottle this is Cask collection 3 year Bourbon cask. Likely very similar.