Excellence Rhum Espérance B07 (Collection 2023) 2016

Excellence Rhum is a French bottler, and this Esperance B07 is a single-cask Guadeloupe agricole pressed from fresh sugar-cane juice rather than molasses. Drawn from a 2016 vintage and bottled unsweetened, its distinguishing feature is a double maturation, first in cognac casks, then in virgin oak.

That two-stage ageing builds the character: the cognac casks lend fruit and roundness while the new oak adds toast and spice. The nose is fruity with spice, vanilla and wood, the palate turns woody with caramel and warm spice, and the finish runs long, spicy and oaky, with apricot, cherry and nuts threading through. At a cask strength 56.9% it has real intensity and depth, a punchier, cognac-kissed step beyond the lighter Guadeloupe house style for drinkers who already enjoy agricole at higher proof.