Carrere & Longueteau Montebello R.1963 “Blended Rum”

This Montebello R.1963 blends work from Carrere and Longueteau, two Guadeloupe agricole houses, into a single bottling. Made from fresh-pressed sugar-cane juice and presented at cask strength, it sits under the island's IGP, and despite the blended billing it drinks as a vibrant, largely unaged-tasting agricole white with only the lightest touch of wood.

Bottled at a punchy 63% with sweetening undisclosed, it noses on pear, sugar cane, wood and citrus, then drinks fresh and round with lime and clear cane character, finishing on lime, fruit, mint and herbs. The proof gives it real lift while the profile stays crisp and clean rather than heavy, and the faint wood keeps it from being purely raw. Built with mixing in mind, it makes a powerful Ti' Punch base, yet it carries enough freshness and fruit to be sipped neat by drinkers who enjoy bright, high-strength whites.