ReimonenQ Coeur de Chauffe

ReimonenQ is a Guadeloupe distillery, and this Coeur de Chauffe, the heart of the distillation run, is an unaged blanc made from fresh sugar cane juice under the island's IGP. Bottled at a powerful 59% in the high-strength manner common to the region, it is built to show the raw spirit unvarnished.

The column still keeps the green, vegetal congeners that define agricole, and this blanc runs earthy and savoury, the nose offering vegetal and earthy notes with licorice and a brine-like edge, the palate turning to green apple, olive and pepper, the finish dry and warm over sugarcane. Unsweetened and assertive, it leans more rustic and saline than fruity. It comes into its own in a Ti Punch or a White and Stormy, where its forceful, earthy character stands up to lime and ginger, though the bold will take it neat.