Neisson Profil 62

Neisson, the family distillery that agricole drinkers hold in high regard, bottles this Profil 62 from fresh-pressed sugar cane juice distilled on its creole column. The still is run low to keep the green cane congeners, and the result shows the house style sitting between fresh blanc and lightly oaked spirit, with a short spell in bourbon wood softening the grass into vanilla.

The nose is fragrant and faintly sweet with vanilla, fresh fruit and a floral lift, while the palate turns spiced, floral and herbal over a grassy base. The finish carries honey, citrus, nutmeg and a faintly medicinal edge. Bottled unsweetened at 49.2 percent, the dosage-free character keeps it dry despite the vanilla notes, the natural sweetness coming from the cask rather than any addition. A well-balanced, fairly priced agricole for neat sipping or a stirred serve that lets its spice and florals carry.