Depaz Single Cask 2003

Depaz distills at the foot of Mont Pelee on Martinique, trading on its volcanic terroir, and this is a single cask from the 2003 vintage, an aged agricole from fresh pressed cane juice on the estate's column still. At thirteen years and bottled unsweetened at 45%, it carries the extra wood and maturity that tropical ageing brings without tipping into heaviness.

The nose is woody and fruity with citrus and dried fruit, the palate showing tropical fruit, oak and a vegetal cane edge, the finish turning to wood, grass, pepper and vanilla. Ex bourbon ageing rounds it out while the grassy agricole character stays recognisable beneath the oak. It comes across as balanced and unaggressive, the fruit and wood in easy proportion, and benefits from a little time in the glass. This is a relaxed sipping rum for those who like a fruity, mature agricole.