Engenhos do Norte Branca

Engenhos do Norte distils on the island of Madeira, one of the few places outside the French Caribbean allowed to use the term rhum agricole. This Branca is pressed from fresh sugar cane juice on a column still and bottled at 40%, a light, fresh take on the cane juice white with a nod to the local Madeira wine in its cask history.

The nose is fresh and cane driven with lime, a fruity note and a glue like ester edge typical of unaged agricole, and the palate turns vegetal and grassy with green pepper and lemon. The finish stays minty and fresh over sugar cane and more lemon. It is an honest, no frills island white, fruity on the nose if a touch leaner on the palate, and bottled at standard strength it sits comfortably as a fresh, easy sipper or a mixer rather than a powerhouse.