La Favorite Coeur de Canne

La Favorite is one of Martinique's traditional family distilleries, and this Coeur de Canne is an unaged blanc made from fresh-pressed sugar cane juice under the island's rum AOC, the only such appellation in the world. Bottled at a bracing 55%, it is built to show the cane at full voice.

The creole column distils low to keep the grassy, vegetal congeners that define agricole, and this blanc delivers them in full, fresh sugarcane and green vegetal notes lifted by bright citrus, with an unexpected dried apricot and dried fruit nuance adding depth. The finish is peppery and dry with lime and a sugarcane snap. Unsweetened and lively, it is the antidote to sweet molasses rum and the natural heart of a proper Ti Punch, though it rewards neat sipping too for those who like their blanc forceful.