Toucan Saint Maurice Vieux Rhum 2017

Toucan is a French Guiana rum brand, and this bottling draws on Saint Maurice, the territory's historic distillery. It is a 2017 vieux made from fresh-pressed sugarcane juice rather than molasses, an agricole-style rum from a corner of South America with its own French-influenced cane tradition.

Distilled through a column still and matured four years in ex-bourbon oak, the spirit keeps a fresh, grassy core under its wood: a nose of spice, coffee and white chocolate with an alcoholic lift, a palate of mint, oak, flowers and grass, and a clean finish. At 48% it has presence and a fresh-cane, pastry-and-bourbon-vanilla character that rewards a little air. There is no added sugar. This is a bright, dry, slightly minty agricole vieux for neat sipping, offering an unusual origin for drinkers who like to range beyond the French islands proper.