Karukera Double Maturation 2004

Karukera is a Guadeloupe agricole estate relaunched in 2002, known for single-cane bottlings drawn from fresh-pressed juice rather than molasses. This 2004 vintage carries eight years of age across a double maturation in ex-bourbon oak and is bottled unsweetened at 44.6%, sitting under the Guadeloupe IGP rather than the Martinique AOC.

Distilled on a column still run to keep the green cane congeners intact, it shows a fruity, almost confected nose of marzipan, pear and clove. The palate stays anchored to sugar cane with a spicy edge and ripe fruit, while the finish leans woody and faintly smoky from the extended barrel time. Dry and spice-forward in the agricole manner rather than sweet, the double-cask ageing adds depth and a darker fruit register without ever burying the fresh cane signature underneath.