Crucial Drinks Rum & Cane French Overseas XO

Crucial Drinks Rum & Cane French Overseas XO is an island blend built around French overseas islands, bringing together Martinique cane juice character and a fruitier molasses rum from Reunion. It sits at an easy 43% and aims squarely at the relaxed end of the shelf, a softer introduction to cane driven rum than a full strength agricole.

The nose opens on punchy sugarcane, cinnamon and a fresh woody edge, the kind of dark caramelised sugar that reads like creme brulee. The palate turns sweeter and rounder, raisin and tropical fruit threaded with liquorice and a vegetal cane note, before a candied, caramel and dried fruit finish. Sweetness here is moderate and the spice keeps it from feeling flat, though some find it lightly watered at this proof. It is best understood as a friendly sipper and a step up mixer rather than a serious neat showpiece.