J. Bally Pyramide 7 Ans

J. Bally Pyramide 7 Ans is an aged Martinique agricole, made under the island's AOC, the only rum appellation in the world, from fresh-pressed sugar cane juice rather than molasses, with no added sugar permitted. It is distilled on a creole column at low strength to keep the cane character in the spirit, then matured in ex-bourbon oak past the appellation's three year vieux floor.

This sits at the approachable, wood-led end of agricole. The grassy, vegetal core of the cane is still there but folded into dry oak, vanilla, dried fruit and baking spice, with a lightly bitter, earthy finish carrying that agricole signature. At 45% it is balanced and undemanding, a sensible everyday Martinique rum that rewards a little air and tends to round out once the bottle has been open a while. A good middle step for drinkers moving into agricole from oak-driven sippers, neat or in a Ti Punch.