

What makes French West Indies–style rum (called rhum agricole) so interesting is that it’s fermented and distilled from only the juice of fresh-pressed sugarcane rather than molasses, a byproduct of sugar production. This lends the spirits a little funk and a whole lot of flavor. Rhum Clément’s new release, Canne Bleue, is one of the best I’ve tasted and a fascinating study in a single variety of cane. It’s grassy, with quince, green mango, pine and mint aromas while a blackberry fruitiness gives a sensation of sweetness even as it ends bone dry. Also worthy of attention is the new Select Barrel, a blend of several single-cane rums aged three years in used French oak barrels. The wood tempers a bit of the agricole funk, bestowing the rum with sweet spice, vanilla and an almost pine nut–like note. It’s a versatile pour, good mixed into a drink or on its own, and a terrific value at the price.
Spirits Type:
Rum
ABV:
Canne Bleue, 50%;
Select Barrel, 40%
Producer:
Rhum Clément USA, Manhasset, NY
Price:
$34 (Bleue); $29 (Barrel)
This story appears in the print issue of Winter 2014.
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