Carrere Montebello Rhum Vieux Winch 1997

Montebello, the traditional Basse-Terre distillery run by the Marsolle family, is the source of this Carrere-distilled Winch bottling from 1997. Made from fresh-pressed sugar-cane juice and aged eight years in ex-bourbon American oak before being reduced for bottling, it sits under Guadeloupe's IGP, an older vintage agricole in a softer, more accessible register.

Brought down to 42% and bottled unsweetened, it noses on tropical fruit, brown sugar, wood and orange, then drinks soft and gentle with sugar cane, a molasses-like richness and mocha. The lower strength makes it easy and approachable, a rum that trades intensity for smoothness and gourmand sweetness of flavour rather than added sugar. Medium in length and undemanding, it suits relaxed neat sipping for drinkers who want an aged agricole without the grip of cask strength, and it turns up across several vintages for those who like to compare.