Bologne La Batterie 2019

Bologne's La Batterie 2019 is a white agricole from the Guadeloupe distillery, distilled from fresh sugarcane juice on a creole column and bottled high at 58.6%. Guadeloupe sits under IGP rather than the Martinique AOC, but Bologne makes its blancs in the pure agricole tradition, and this is an unaged white with proof to spare.

The creole column distils low to keep the vegetal congeners, so the nose is fresh and grassy with sugarcane, citrus and a green edge. The palate is dry and peppery with citrus zest, a vegetal thread and cane, some drinkers finding mineral and iodine notes alongside menthol, the finish warm, citric and spicy with real length. It is expressive and dry rather than soft, the freshness and snap of a good blanc carried at strength. A characterful white best in a dry Ti' Punch, where the cane and pepper drive the drink, or sipped with water.