Bellevue Rhum Vieux 1821 2010

Bellevue is a Marie-Galante distillery known for its eco-minded, solar-powered setup and for supplying bulk rum to independent bottlers. This Rhum Vieux 1821, a 2010 vintage aged ten years, is unusual in drawing on both molasses and fresh sugar cane juice, distilled on a column still and matured in ex-bourbon oak at 45%.

The mixed feedstock gives it a foot in two camps, the cane juice lending a grassy, vegetal lift while the molasses and long tropical ageing bring rounder, sweeter depth. The nose shows sugarcane, vanilla, wood and honey, the palate turns to licorice and cane with vanilla, and the finish stays woody and dry with a banana note. Unsweetened despite its richer profile, it is a versatile aged island rum, equally at home sipped slowly or anchoring a more characterful cocktail.