Hardy Saint James Tartane Rhum Blanc 50

The Tartane Rhum Blanc 50 from Saint James, the Martinique distillery dating to 1765 and among the island's largest, here in a Hardy bottling. As an AOC blanc it is pure fresh-pressed cane juice, rested rather than aged and bottled unsweetened at a lively 50%, a classic working white in the agricole tradition.

The creole column keeps the grassy, fruity cane congeners in the spirit. The nose is welcoming and fruity with lime, sweet orange and a soft note, and the palate turns peppery with sugar cane, grass and a fruit-schnapps edge, finishing on sugar cane, citrus and an earthy touch. It carries a lot of flavour for a standard white, with a long, intense finish, and the cane snap stays front and centre without overwhelming sweetness. Honest and unsweetened, it is a simple, effective blanc that earns its keep, made above all for Ti' Punch but pleasant enough to sip neat.