Rhum J.M Fumée Volcanique

Rhum J.M Fumee Volcanique is a one year old Martinique agricole from the J.M distillery in the far north of the island, made from fresh-pressed sugar cane juice and distilled on a column still at low strength to keep the cane character intact. Its hook is the maturation, a finish in whisky casks that pulls the spirit toward a smoky, peated register unusual for agricole.

The result is a quirky, vegetal crossover rather than a polished aged rum. The nose is smoky, woody and fruity with a burnt edge, the palate leans into smoke, barrel, peat and a whisky-like character, and the finish stays woody, herbal, spicy and dry. Bottled unsweetened at 49%, it shows its youth more than its polish, with the charcoal and green cane notes front and centre. A fun, fairly priced bottle for drinkers who enjoy peated or smoky whisky and want to dip into agricole, good neat for the curious or in a cocktail where its smoky twist stands out.