Famille Ricci Papa Rouyo Édition limitée Bar 1802

Bottled by Famille Ricci for the Bar 1802 limited edition, this is a single-cask pot-still rum from Papa Rouyo, one of Guadeloupe's newer craft cane-juice distilleries. Pot distillation is unusual in the agricole world, which favours the creole column, and it lends this young spirit extra weight and texture.

Distilled from fresh sugar-cane juice and bottled at a powerful 62.5%, it opens gourmand and inviting: fresh cane, vanilla, brown sugar and a light oak touch, even a hint of apple tart. The palate turns markedly more vegetal, spicy and powerful, the cane reasserting itself over a peppery base. This is a young, high-strength bottling for experienced palates, well made and characterful, rewarding those who like their cane rums raw, gourmand and forceful in equal measure.