Depaz 2004

Depaz 2004 is a thirteen year old agricole from the Depaz estate at the foot of Mont Pelee in Martinique, where distilling dates to 1917 and the volcanic terroir is part of the house story. Drawn from the 2004 vintage and bottled at cask strength without added sugar, it sits well into vieux territory, with long tropical ageing behind a powerful and layered spirit.

Distilled from fresh cane juice on a column still and matured in ex-bourbon oak, it shows classic aged-agricole intensity: apple, mirabelle, citrus and honey on the nose, then a palate of bitter orange, spice and chocolate over elegant oak, closing dry, woody and faintly bitter. At 58% the strength is full but harmonious, the kind of cask-strength agricole that opens beautifully with a little water. Dry and unsweetened throughout, it is widely treated as a benchmark, a serious neat pour for experienced drinkers who want depth, fruit and grip together.