Bielle Blanc

Bielle distils on Marie Galante, the small Guadeloupe island known for cane variety experiments and high proof blancs, and this Blanc is bottled at 50% under the local custom of strong, unaged whites. Pressed from fresh sugar cane juice and left unaged, it is a vivid IGP cane juice rum that puts the raw spirit on full display.

The nose is clearly fresh agricole, all grassy, herbal lift with lime, sour green apple, yoghurt and a saline edge. The palate is where it gets characterful, velvety yet sharp with green chili, cinnamon, lychee and a load of spice, and the finish snaps into salty, savoury territory with papaya and a smoky, bacon like note. Faintly straw coloured from a possible brief rest, it is a distinctive, unmistakably island white, made for a punchy Ti Punch and adventurous neat sipping.