Hardy Saint James Cuvée Gaston Hardy 2012

This is a Saint James agricole selected and bottled by Hardy as the Cuvee Gaston Hardy. Drawn from a 2012 vintage with ten years of age, it qualifies comfortably for the AOC XO tier, made under Martinique's protected rules from fresh pressed sugar cane juice.

Distilled on a creole column still that runs low to keep the cane character intact and matured in ex-bourbon oak, tropical ageing means ten years here shows real depth. Expect the dry, spice forward profile of mature agricole, a grassy cane core layered with vanilla, baking spice, cocoa and toasted oak. Bottled unsweetened at 43%.