William Hinton 6 Years

William Hinton is one of the few producers outside Martinique, Guadeloupe and Reunion entitled to the words rhum agricole, working on the Atlantic island of Madeira from fresh pressed sugar cane juice rather than molasses. This is the six year expression, distilled on a column still and bottled at a soft 40%, an approachable way into the island's cane juice tradition.

Madeira casks give the rum its character, lending dried fruit, raisin and a sherried, lightly winey note over a mild caramel sweetness and soft oak. The cane juice base keeps the body light and the wood gentle rather than aggressive, with a touch of floral spice and a short, easy finish. It reads as an everyday sipper or a relaxed Daiquiri base rather than a heavyweight, the kind of unhurried agricole that asks little and pours smoothly.