Depaz Cuvée Papao 2019

Depaz sits at the foot of Mont Pelee on Martinique, distilling from fresh pressed cane juice since the early twentieth century and trading on its volcanic terroir. This Cuvee Papao is a 2019 white from the estate's creole column still, distilled low to keep the grassy, vegetal cane character intact, then rested and bottled unsweetened at 48%.

The nose is vegetal and citrus led, full of lime and fresh herbs over green sugarcane, while the palate stays spirited and dry with peppery bite and a clean vegetal core. It reads drier and more herbal than the softer estate blancs, with a finish that keeps the lime and cane sap going. Bottled at a comfortable strength, it works neat for those who like a bracing white, but its natural home is Ti Punch, where the lime and herbal snap come into their own.