Labourdonnais 1774

Labourdonnais distils on Mauritius from fresh sugar cane juice, following the agricole method while local law reserves the actual word agricole for the French territories. This 1774 expression, named for a date in the island's history, is a column-still rum bottled at a soft 40%.

The nose is fresh and fruity, leaning on green fruit, pear and a clean lift, while the palate turns rounder and a touch syrupy with passion fruit and green fruit threaded by pepper. The finish brings black pepper and tropical fruit. With its easy strength and ripe fruit character it sits on the gentler, more approachable side of cane-juice rum rather than offering the bone-dry snap of a high-proof blanc, an amiable everyday pour for sipping or for a relaxed island-style cocktail.