Distillerie de Jeanty Plantation 2010

This single cask comes from Distillerie de Jeanty in Haiti, bottled under the Plantation label by Maison Ferrand from the 2010 vintage. Haitian cane juice rum belongs to the clairin family in spirit, made from fresh sugar cane juice though it cannot use the French island terms, and here a column still spirit has been given eight years in ex bourbon oak and bottled unsweetened at 40.15%.

The wood has rounded off the rawer village edges while leaving the Haitian character intact. The nose is floral and bright with rose, lime and red fruit, and the palate turns woody and peppery with a ripe banana note running through it. The finish is the most expressive part, layering almond, raisin, honey and mango. Gentle in proof yet full of personality, it shows how tropical ageing can civilise Haitian cane juice rum without flattening its distinctive perfume.