Famille Ricci Bielle Exception 2001

Bielle is a Marie Galante agricole distillery, and this Exception bottling was selected by Famille Ricci, a respected French rum and spirits house, from fresh pressed sugar cane juice under Guadeloupe's IGP. A single cask carrying a 2001 vintage and nineteen years in ex bourbon oak, it sits firmly at the deeply matured end of the agricole spectrum.

The nose is spicy with bitter orange, barrel and wood, while the palate brings bitter orange, barrel and mocha together in a layered, oily expression, the finish staying oily with cherry and chocolate. Nineteen years of ageing make this an unmistakably woody rum, prized by tasters who want maximum oak and dried fruit depth, though some find the wood verges on dominating, almost Armagnac like in its emphasis. Bottled at 45.5% and unsweetened, it is a powerful, oak driven single cask Marie Galante agricole, one for drinkers who chase the dense, woody character of very long tropical ageing, best sipped slowly and neat.