Habitation du Simon A1710 La Délivrande 2016

A1710 is a Martinique producer based at the Habitation du Simon, making agricole from fresh pressed cane juice with a focus on traditional methods. This La Delivrande is a single harvest 2016, an aged cane juice rum bottled at cask strength and unsweetened, around six years old and leaning toward the drier, more spice forward end of the agricole spectrum at 48.8%.

The nose is woody and fresh with dried fruit and spice, the palate bringing more dried fruit alongside tobacco, cocoa and a roasted edge, the finish carrying leather, tobacco, pepper and cacao. The cacao note gives it a gourmet depth, the oak prominent but balanced by length and fruit. Elegant and dry rather than sweet, it sits close in spirit to a well aged Trois Rivieres or J.M, a focused sipper for drinkers who like their agricole mature and wood driven.