Saint James Blanc

Saint James has been distilling in Martinique since 1765 and is among the island's largest houses, working within its rum AOC from fresh pressed sugar cane juice with no added sugar permitted. This blanc is bottled unsweetened at a firm 55%, the kind of higher proof that gives an agricole white the backbone for a serious Ti Punch.

Distilled on a column still in the agricole style, low enough to keep the green congeners of the cane, it shows the freshness and snap that defines the category. The nose is surprisingly fragrant for a widely available rum, fresh sugar cane and candied fruit over an earthy, vegetal base, and the palate runs floral and grassy with a spicy, fruity kick that stays dry. Honest and straightforward, it is at its best as a mixable workhorse blanc for Ti Punch and cocktails rather than a contemplative neat pour.