Rhum Agricole Tasting
This was my first rum tasting and apparently my friends and I landed upon a good one. Formerly known as Domaine de l’Acajou, Habitation Clément located on the island of Martinique, is the birthplace of Rhum Agricole and carries the culture of an ancient Créole sugarcane plantation rich with French West Indian history.
So what exactly is Rhum Agricole? Most rum is made from molasses, a by-product of sugar refining. On the other hand, Rhum Agricole comes from freshly squeezed sugar cane juice rather than the molasses by-product. Many consider it to be the purest expression of rum. In addition, Martinique is unique in that their rums are under France’s AOC (Appellation d’Origine Controlée) which means that the rums produced on the island of Martinique have to meet certain standards. To be labeled “AOC Martinique Rhum agricole”, rum has to be produced from cane grown in an area authorized by the AOC decree and has to be of one of the three following designations:
Rhum “blanc” Martinique (white rum): colorless rum which has been laid still for at least three months and not more than three months if rum has been stocked in oak barrels.
Rhum Martinique “élevé sous bois” (cask aged rum): Rum has been aged in oak barrels within the production area for at least 12 uninterrupted months. This minimum concentration guarantees the cask aged rhum agricole’s bouquet.
Rhum Martinique “vieux” (extra aged rum): Rum has been aged in oak casks within the production area and for at least 3 uninterrupted years. This minimum concentration superior to the one imposed to cask aged rum guarantees a richer bouquet for the extra aged rhum agricole. .
Clément rhums presented at this tasting:
CLÉMENT CANNE BLEUE
Crafted from the intensely aromatic juice of one varietal sugarcane, Canne Bleue is an exceptional white rhum produced from only blue sugarcane. Clément Canne Bleue rests for just over six months in a stainless steel vat and is slowly reduced over time with distilled volcanic spring water creating a remarkable well-integrated full-bodied white Rhum Agricole, loaded with character and flavor unlike any other rum in the world.
Signature cocktails: the Hemingway, ‘Ti Punch, and Madame Clément.
CLÉMENT SELECT BARREL
Select Barrel is aged in particular oak barrels selected for their rich natural sweetness and intense aromatic qualities for a minimum of three years under the watchful eyes of cellar master at Habitation Clément. The imaginative alchemy with this contemporary approach to selected oak results in a magnificent aged Rhum Agricole with well-balanced sweetness.
Signature cocktails: Amber ‘Ti Punch, Martinique Mai Tai, Creole Side Car
V.S.O.P. RHUM
Clément V.S.O.P. Rhum Agricole Vieux is aged a minimum of four years in virgin Limousin barriques and re-charred Bourbon casks. The superb alchemy of natural rum from sugarcane juice matured in a unique variety of the world’s finest oak barrels orchestrated by our Cellar Master gives this exceptional aged rum its brilliant mahogany color, roasted cocoa bean aroma and its illustrious smooth mellow character.
10 Year CUVÉE HOMÈRE
Clément Cuvée Homère is the top of the Cellar Master’s Selection Series and features the highest rated vintage rums of the last fifteen years aged in French Limousin Barriques and re-charred Bourbon Barrels. Each vintage brings its own unique flavor profile, which makes Cuvée Homère one of the more complex rums with tremendous flavor and a long lasting finish.
Aromas of warm biscuits and almond butter continue to evolve into baking spice. Nice viscous clarified butter mouth feel delivers flavors of pemmican fruits, hazelnuts, chocolate and a peppery oak complexity around the edges. The finish is highly nuanced and textured, wood notes with fruit, tarragon, licorice root, floral notes, then and a dry sweet brine for several minutes.
CLÉMENT MAHINA COCO
A bright French Caribbean coconut delicacy, Mahina Coco is crafted with luscious pieces of young coconut soused with Rhum Agricole, which brings a soft and sweet roundness of the tropics. Try Mahina Coco simply on ice, with pineapple juice, or in exotic island cocktails and batidas.
Signature cocktails: Mahina Colada, Mahina Dream, Cocomotive
Time for ‘Ti Punch! – 1 ½ oz. Clément Canne Rhum Bleue, 1 bar spoon Sirop de Canne, 1 lime disc (silver dollar-size twist cut off the edge of a lime to capture a little pulp and zest). Squeeze the lime to extract as much lime oil and juice as possible. Add the Sirop de Canne and Première Canne. Add ice, or don’t add ice… as you like in tradition of Martinique ritual. Swizzle with a bois lélé or a bar spoon and voilà!
