Karukera Double Maturation (Cognac & Sherry) 2011

Karukera is a Guadeloupe agricole estate relaunched in 2002, working from fresh-pressed sugar-cane juice. This 2011 release is a double maturation, aged in both sherry and cognac casks, drawn from six years and bottled at cask strength of 54.1% under the Guadeloupe IGP rather than the Martinique AOC, the wine and brandy casks reshaping the cane spirit into something darker.

Distilled on a column still that keeps the green cane congeners, it takes on rich, dried-fruit depth from the cask programme. The nose is prunes, dark chocolate and dried apricot over sugar cane, the palate brings dark chocolate, cedar wood, dried fruit and leather, and the finish lingers on allspice. Given air, raisins, prunes and dried figs emerge. Dry but generously fruity, with a warming, atypical character from the sherry and cognac influence, this is a layered Guadeloupe agricole for slow sipping, the high proof opening with a few drops of water.