Rhum J.M XO

Rhum J.M sits in the far north of Martinique near Mont Pelee, a house dating to 1845 and prized for the terroir of its volcanic soils. Like all Martinique agricole it is distilled from fresh pressed sugar cane juice rather than molasses, on a creole column that runs at low strength to keep the grassy, vegetal cane character in the spirit. The XO designation carries the island's AOC, the world's only rum appellation, and signals at least six years in oak.

The result keeps that fresh cane core while tropical ageing layers in vanilla, baking spice, toasted oak and dried fruit. On the palate it runs peppery and woody, drier and more spice forward than a sweet molasses rum, with a warm, dry finish. No sugar is added, as the AOC forbids it, so this is agricole at its most composed: characterful, balanced and equally at home neat, over ice, or in a Ti Punch.