Excellence Rhum Bielle 515 Collection (10th Anniversary) 2017

Bielle is a Marie-Galante distillery known for high proof blancs and cane variety work, and this 515 Collection bottling for Excellence Rhum's tenth anniversary is a single cask five year old from the 2017 harvest, made from fresh pressed cane juice and bottled unsweetened at a natural 57.6%. It shows the expressive, fruit driven side of the house with added punch and oak depth.

Distilled on a column and matured in ex bourbon wood, it keeps the cane signature while gaining gentle barrel sweetness. The nose runs fresh sugar cane, honey, vanilla and a sweet lift, the palate turns to honey, wood, sugar cane and bitter orange, and the finish goes long and bittersweet with coffee, cocoa and oak. The balance of fruity sweetness, spice and a drier, bitter close makes this a satisfying, characterful agricole for anyone who enjoys young Bielle single casks at full strength.