Famille Ricci 59.8 Edition Spéciale Open Spirits (Old Brothers)

Famille Ricci 59.8 Edition Speciale, made with Open Spirits under the Old Brothers name, is a cask strength blend of pure cane juice rums from multiple distilleries, bottled unsweetened at 59.8%. Drawn from fresh pressed sugar cane juice rather than molasses, it lives in agricole territory, with the multi origin assembly contrasting greasy, sugary grogue character against a herbal, mineral component.

Distilled low on creole columns to preserve the cane congeners, it is fresh and vegetal on the nose with herbal and pineapple notes, then turns to sugarcane, floral, iodine and honey on the palate before a warm, herbal, cane driven finish. The bottling marries a Cabo Verde grogue's oily, sugarcane snap with the herbal, iodised, mineral profile of a Marie Galante agricole, and the two halves slot together neatly. Energetic without being aggressive despite the high proof, it is a vivid, dry cane juice white that drinkers find genuinely exciting, well suited to a Ti Punch or sipping with care.