Les Rhums du Sud Barbade Assemblage (Collection Guillaume de Roany)

This is an assemblage selected by the independent bottler Les Rhums du Sud for its Guillaume de Roany collection, a small vatting of molasses rum aged in ex-bourbon and brought together from casks spanning roughly four to nine years. It is presented at cask strength in the purist independent style, without the added sweetness common to the Spanish-leaning category, letting the oak and spirit speak plainly.

Maturation in ex-bourbon shows in a barrel-forward, woody core, but the real interest is the herbal, savoury character that runs alongside it. The nose is spicy and herbal over wood and cask, the palate leads with herbs, fresh mint and a peppery, almost savoury edge, and the whole thing stays dry and structured rather than sweet. At 54% it carries weight and grip, an unsweetened, herb-driven blend for drinkers who like their rum bottled honestly and at full strength.