Old Brothers Bielle 72.8 2016

Old Brothers is a French independent bottler, and here it takes a 2016 cask of Bielle, the Marie-Galante distillery known for high proof blancs and cane variety work. This is rhum agricole from fresh pressed sugarcane juice, column distilled and bottled at an extreme 72.8%, the kind of full strength blanc style release that Marie-Galante producers and their bottlers are happy to put out.

At that proof the spirit is concentrated and vivid, with a fresh, floral nose carrying lime and pure sugarcane, and a palate that is intense, limey and green right through. The finish stays concentrated and warming, all cane sap and citrus. This is unapologetically a high octane agricole that needs water or ice to unfurl, at which point the floral and lime notes bloom over the grassy core. Built for the Ti Punch and for drinkers who like their cane juice rhum raw, fresh and powerful, it is a vivid snapshot of Marie-Galante at full voltage.