Sodade Atlântico VO

Sodade Atlantico VO is an agricole-style rhum from Cap Verde, a small archipelago in the Atlantic with its own long cane-spirit culture distinct from the French islands. It is distilled from fresh-pressed sugar-cane juice rather than molasses, here on a pot still, which tends to give a rounder, more characterful spirit than the lighter creole column.

It carries a little over three years in ex-bourbon casks and is bottled unsweetened at 45%. Cane juice rhum of this kind typically keeps a grassy, vegetal backbone, with the short oak adding light vanilla and spice rather than heavy wood. Expect freshness and snap rather than sweetness.