La Favorite Millésime 2013

La Favorite is a Martinique distillery, and this Millesime from the 2013 vintage is an unsweetened AOC agricole pressed from fresh sugar cane juice on a creole column still and bottled at cask strength of 48.5%. It sits between a fresh blanc and a fully aged vieux, a lightly matured vintage that keeps a youthful edge.

The nose leans floral and fruity with sugar cane, candied fruit, citrus and a light wood, while the palate turns toward the barrel with vanilla, baking spice and a cigar box note. The finish is woody with allspice. Drier than a sweet molasses rum and pitched at a comfortable cask strength, it reads as a solid, slightly youthful sipper with good fruit and wood balance. A sensible step up for anyone who likes lighter agricoles and wants a drier, unsweetened bottle with a bit more proof and oak.