Best agricole?

[Tiare]

Which are the best best agricoles in your opinion for making ti punches and for planters punches?

[Edward Hamilton]

I am familiar only with the rhum agricole from the French islands which are distilled and bottled in those islands. Everywhere I've traveled, with only a few exceptions, I've observed a very strong loyalty to the rum which is made in that area of the island. As humans we tend to choose our food, drink, dress and music according to what we are most familiar.

In the US, there are only a few brands of rhum agricole blanc available and I see people gravitating to those which are bottled at 100 proof on Martinique. I'm encouraged that Depaz is now available in Sweden, that is a good quality rhum agricole distilled and (hopefully bottled) on Martinique.

Actually, all of the agricole rhums bottled on Martinique and Guadeloupe at this time are of good quality but the best is a matter of personal preference. For me, I've yet to find any rhum agricole, or any other rum, which I'd like to drink to the exclusion of all others. But I'm still looking and tasting.

[Tiare]

For me, I've yet to find any rhum agricole, or any other rum, which I'd like to drink to the exclusion of all others. But I'm still looking and tasting.

I like that statement..the more variation the better!:D

I hope Depaz will be available here not only temporarily but in the ordinary selection.
And also more than just one type.The Depaz I now have at home is bought from Germany, its the 100 proof blanc. I like its sharp grassy aftertaste..:p
I want to find out if possible where the Depaz here is bottled, isn`t it so that those bottled in Martinique is better? The only thing i know is that the producer is Bardinet.

[angelsword]

But I'm still looking and tasting.

I like that statement..the more variation the better!
My goodness! :eek::o I couldn't agree more! :p;)

[Hank Koestner]

Ed saved me quite a bit of typing, because his answer is perfect. :p I have never had a Ti punch I did not like made from agricole from the French Islands. I have tasted a number of them, and although there are slight variations in taste, they are all great!:)

[angelsword]

I would not normally attempt to answer this one. But since my limited collection of agricole rums are out on the counter right now ... [I just completed a tasting session with Dood, who happened to be in Texas for the Christmas holidays.]

List:
Clement Premiere Canne
Neisson Reserve Special
St James Hors de Age
St James Amber
Rhum JM Vieux
Rhum JM Eleve Sous Bois
Clement XO (Xmas gift from Dood, THANK YOU!)

While I like to think "the older the better", it just isn't always true. There are certain things I like younger. That can happen in rums as well. After three rounds of tasting... the unanimous (just me) winner is St James Amber.

[Edward Hamilton]

I want to find out if possible where the Depaz here is bottled, isn`t it so that those bottled in Martinique are better? The only thing i know is that the producer is Bardinet.

I believe that the bottles of Depaz you have in Sweden were bottled in Martinique. The exports to Germany are small at this time and there seems to be a little more respect for authenticity in the European market. In some countries if it the product is bottled in other than the country of origin it must be on the label but I don't know much about the European regulations.

[Tiare]

Next time I go to our shop for spirits I will take a look at the bottle. The Depaz blanc I bought from Italy is bottled in Martinique.Sadly I just finished it tonight..

[Tiare]

I wasnґt able to get to the shop in time becasue I almost broke my foot on my way to work one morning..and wasn`t able to walk for a week.
Then yesterday when I went to the shop the temporarily Depaz was gone..its replaced with St Etienne rhum vieux agricole.

[Edward Hamilton]

That's a shame that you hurt your foot and then missed more of the Depaz rum. I just finished a bottle of the St Etienne Vieux, which is distilled by the same people who distill Clement and a few other rums on Martinique.

Like Clement it's aged at the old plantation warehouse and then bottled for shipment.

[Tiare]

What is the taste of it Ed?

[Hank Koestner]

Ed will fill you in better on the taste, but when I was in St. Barths in July they
had St Etienne rums for sale at the Match (grocery store). One bar I found had them behind the bar, and I tasted the Rhum Vieux and a 10 year. They were very good as I remember, and one would have come home with me, but I was at the max of what I could carry already.

[Edward Hamilton]

The rhums from Saint Etienne (http://www.ministryofrum.com/producerdetails.php?t=775) have changed in the last few years, 2000 to be more precise, time flies when you're busy. In the above link, the header says distilled by Simon. I'm in the process of expanding the software to include "bottled by Saint Etienne," but that will have to wait a day or two.

The old bottles of Saint Etienne, before the new packaging and bottle were adopted, were a different spirit compared to what is currently being bottled at Saint Etienne. Since I don't know which bottle you have in your European market, I'm going to assume that it is the one currently available (http://www.ministryofrum.com/rumdetails.php?r=245) in Martinique.

Without going into a lot of detail, since taste is very subjective, I would compare the Saint Etienne rhum agricole vieux to a lighter version of the youngest Clement from the same distillery. Prior to 2000, Saint Etienne was being bottled from older stocks of rhum agricole distilled at Simon. There was little commercialization of this brand before 2000 and many observers expected it to be relegated to the history books. According to the brand manager in Martinique a few years ago, I was told that this rhum vieux was aged three years. Due in part to the fact that this rhum wasn't aged as long as some other rhums the flavor profile isn't going to be as broad as some of the agricole rhums which have aged longer. The good news is that as Saint Etienne continues to sell both rhum blanc and rhum vieux, they are going to be build their aged rhum stocks.

As for the taste profile - the aroma is light with hints of cinnamon and caramel. The initial taste begins with a slight sweet raisin and honey flavor that quickly moves to the body of smoky oak finishing with a dry, slightly sweet smoky flavor. Saint Etienne is following a trend among Martinique distillers and bottlers to bottle their old rhums at 40 - 42% abv. In the mid-90's almost every old rhum on Martinique was bottled at 45%abv with some bottled at 47 - 50% abv.

[Tiare]

You`re right Ed, it is the one currently available in Martinique. Its bottled at 40%.
Thanks for the information, very interesting.

[Hank Koestner]

Yes, that is the new bottle style that was in St Barths also. I would have returned with a bottle of the 10 if there was room, but I also chose other agricoles to bring home in lieu of the St. Etienne. I also remember the price being good on this rhum also. The 10 was very tasty.