J. Bally Rhum Blanc

J. Bally is a historic Martinique house, and this Rhum Blanc is its unaged white, full AOC rhum agricole made from fresh pressed sugarcane juice on a column still and bottled unsweetened at 50 percent. The AOC bans any added sugar, so what you taste is pure cane spirit rested rather than sweetened.

For the strength it stays relatively mild and round. The nose is fresh and vegetal with sugarcane and an earthy edge, the palate stays dry and green over cane with an earthy weight, and the finish turns peppery and floral with a grassy lift. This is a clean, no off notes Martinique blanc rather than a wildly expressive one, honest about being a steady workhorse white. It comes into its own in a Ti Punch or a long drink, where its rounded cane character and 50 percent backbone carry a cocktail with ease.