Cave Guildive Bielle Rum 2015

An independent selection from Cave Guildive drawing on Bielle, the Marie-Galante distillery known for cane-variety experiments and high-proof blancs. This is a vintage 2015 agricole, distilled from fresh-pressed sugar-cane juice rather than molasses, given five years in oak and bottled at 54% for a release that keeps the fresh, fruity Bielle signature while gaining a little wood and intensity.

Column distillation in the agricole manner keeps the grassy, fruity cane congeners in the spirit, and the years in ex-bourbon barrels round them with light wood and warm spice. The nose opens fresh and fruity, leaning more on green orchard acidity than on patisserie, then mirabelle, pear and honey arrive on the palate. Woody nutmeg carries into a finish of sugar cane, spice and cinnamon. Added sugar is not declared, but the dry, fruit-forward profile reads as a maturation effect rather than dosage.