Depaz Rhum Doré – Élevé Sous Bois

Depaz distils at the foot of Mont Pelee in Martinique, with a volcanic-terroir story stretching back to 1917, working from fresh-pressed sugar-cane juice. This Dore is an Elevé Sous Bois, around a year in ex-bourbon oak, the ESB tier that sits between blanc and vieux, bottled unsweetened at 50% under the Martinique AOC.

Distilled on a column still that keeps the green cane congeners, it pairs a youthful agricole core with a light wood overlay. The nose is grassy and floral with a nutty, woody edge, the palate stays woody, floral and vegetal with grassy freshness, and the finish runs hot and alcoholic over sugar cane. At this young stage and high proof it can feel a touch sharp and unsettled, the wood not yet fully married to the spirit, so a few drops of water help. Dry and green rather than sweet, it makes a robust, expressive base for a Ti Punch.