The advent calendar season is finally back! Time for surprise and discovery, and let's go on a world tour of cane aromas! This year more than ever, there will be something for everyone, with the 24 Days of Rum and its very eclectic selection, the Rhum Agricole calendar and its 100% French Antilles route, as well as the Rhums Arrangés des Alchimistes .
The aim of this article is to offer you every day from December 1st to December 24th our own tasting note for each of these 3 advent calendars , which are very complementary to each other.
Then join us from December 1st on this blog article which we will update daily with the rums of the day!
And as usual on our site, a small gift is offered with each order. You will therefore receive a bonus mignonette from us, to prolong the pleasure of Advent with a 25th rum.
Before we open all the doors together, here is a little presentation of what awaits you .
24 Days of Rum – 1423 World Class Spirits
The Danes of 1423 World Class Spirits remember well their first advent calendar published 8 years ago. The 2700 boxes and almost 70,000 vials were made by hand, with the help of a few friends hired for the occasion. The success was immediate and the project evolved over the years, so much so that 50,000 calendars were put on sale this year. A change in scale that means that production has become professionalized, but not in just any way, since 1423 uses a specialized workshop employing people with disabilities.
The 24 Days of Rum is now 24 countries and 24 different producers, with only aged rums. The goal is once again discovery and education, with a wide range in terms of styles and aromatic profiles. Each vial is accompanied by a QR code that takes us to a detailed page dedicated to the rum tasted and its distillery of origin. The advent calendar also contains 2 tasting glasses, as well as 2 notebooks to write down your impressions.
Agricultural Rum Calendar – The Rum Route
Here is an advent calendar aimed at lovers of cane and agricultural rum , with a 100% Martinique, Guadeloupe and Marie-Galante selection. For the fourth edition of its calendar, the Route des Rhums team visited producers in the French Antilles to find deliberately different, surprising or atypical rums. Among the tastings on the program, there are even some exclusives specially developed for this calendar, which will delight both novices and specialists!
There are old rums, aged-under-wood, but also white rums , with a power range from 40 to 72%. To top it all off, and since this advent calendar will spend a good month in your living room, the magnificent design of the box is provided by Guadeloupean Robin Lepoutre – Titonoart, a specialist in tattooing and barrel decoration. Each tasting is done blind, and the QR code placed on each miniature takes you to an explanatory video, where you discover the identity and manufacturing secrets of the rum. You can also record your tasting notes in a notebook, which also includes an aroma wheel specially designed for the occasion.
The Alchemists' Arrangement Advent Calendar
It is in Alsace that Yorgens Tuernal concocts this advent calendar of arranged rum , and this for the fourth year. This enthusiast had the idea of expanding the concept of the advent calendar to a selection of recipes of arranged 100% from his composition. After a year of design and preparation, success was there from the start. This requires special organization and attention, since usually arranged rums are made directly in the bottle. Here, it is a question of preparing the 24 recipes approximately three months in advance, so that they reach perfect maturity at the time of bottling (or rather in miniature!).
Then comes the time to prepare the calendars by hand, and therefore shape the boxes, label the vials, and finally put the small bottles in place with the precious help of a community of regular customers. A family affair and friendship that helps to carry out this long task. All the recipes are produced by hand in Alsace, from fresh and quality fruits, an organic cane sugar syrup, and 50% Reunion rum. The calendar contains 23 small 4 cl bottles, and one and a larger 10 cl bottle to finish in style!
The vials in this arranged rum calendar are numbered and correspond to the recipes written on the side of the calendar, but they are placed randomly behind the windows to preserve the surprise 😉 For our part, we have chosen to give you the tasting notes in order. If you want to discover our tasting note of the rum you taste every day, we advise you to put them back in order!
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December is finally here, let's find out which rums are hiding in our calendars!
December 1st
24 Days of Rum
A balanced nose, between roasted nuts, heavily burnt wood and sweet spices, underlined by a bitter orange peel. The palate is a nice concentrate of American oak, soft and fat wood, vanilla, coconut milk and even peanut, with a good dose of roasting to support the whole.
It’s a 5-year-old Rum Explorer Thailand , a balanced, delicious and effective rum!
The Route des Rhums
Walnut, rancio, an extremely candied cane juice garnished with dried fruits, an impression of old rum, inhabited by pecans grilled in battery syrup. The mouth is both very woody and very gourmet. The tannins blend to infinity, to develop notes of dried fruits and blond tobacco. A little bitterness of peppery walnut develops in the length.
It is a Montebello Single Cask 10 years Finish Puligny-Montrachet , a very aromatic rum which represents the ancestral style of Guadeloupe.
The Alchemists' Arrangement
A fresh arrangement with a colorful and light profile, perfect to start the month! Its slightly tangy side will also seduce confectionery lovers. On the palate, the roundness coats the palate, and the rum delivers nuances of English candy, both sweet and tangy.
It’s a Coquelicot arranged rum , very round and delicious!
2 December
24 Days of Rum:
A teeming profile that goes in many directions at once. There are a lot of people in there! We find mainly very ripe and plump exotic fruits, but also an intoxicating vegetal side that looks towards medicinal plants, then spices with powdery and mineral accents.
The mouth is in tune, and a few drops are enough to invade and illuminate the palate. The rum always expresses itself with a slightly wild character, in any case very exotic, served by a powerful but controlled alcohol content.
This is Hooded Skunk Rum ! A rum distilled in Denmark from Paraguayan molasses . Impressive!
The Rum Route:
A white rum that surprises at first with its buttery side, before the surface cracks to deliver long flights rich in citrus fruits of all colors (grapefruit, lime, combava, etc.). With a little time, it reveals some secrets of fermented vesou. The mouth is deliciously balanced, the cane is warm, fruity and slightly acidic, with accents of red fruit brandy.
This is a La Favorite 180th June harvest , a generous agricultural rum, bursting with citrus fruits and sunshine.
The Alchemists' Arrangement:
The inimitable delicacy of the tonka bean is revealed from the first moments, to our great pleasure! Its intertwined nuances of vanilla and cinnamon bring an irresistible pastry side. The palate is a little sweetness, a cream of rum with vanilla and tonka bean that languorously charms the palate.
It’s a Vanilla – Tonka Bean arranged rum, deliciously unstoppable!
3 December
24 Days of Rum:
A little oak and nut smoke wafts from the glass, weighed down by drops of caramel and milk chocolate. A soft loaf of bread comes fresh from the toaster, topped with hazelnuts, almonds and walnuts coated in caramel. The concentration on the palate gives us a thick caramel, tinged with licorice and toasted nuts, then spreads over the coffee.
It’s a Roble Viejo 12 years Ultra Añejo , a rum from Venezuela as dense as a spread!
The Rum Route:
An air of Norman orchard hovers over this rum with tannic but very melted wood. We grab a few apples, a few pears, then roll them in sweet spices. The fruitiness becomes more intense with time, with a vibrant cane juice. The mouth is rather soft and light, while the fruits become more and more cooked, and the spices more biting in the finish.
This is a 2016 HSE Élevé sous bois Parcellaire, a fine example of short aging in oak barrels, with tannins that lean towards apple.
The Alchemists' Arrangement:
It's a certain sweet freshness that emerges at first, like a crunchy sugar placed on top of the glass. Then we access something more cozy, rounder, softer, almost cottony. The mouth is round but still a little acidulous, then a fat and white nutty fruit settles on the taste buds.
It is a Vanilla – Macadamia Nut arranged rum , which gives an impression of a rum cloud.
4 December
24 Days of Rum:
We discover a balanced style, between the aromas of aging in American oak barrels (vanilla, coconut, blond tobacco) and those of a molasses slowly fermented and distilled in a traditional still (ripe exotic fruits, plants with medicinal and coppery accents). The palate is a generous and colorful exotic fruit salad, which takes on increasingly concentrated, caramelized and coppery airs.
It is a Chairman's Reserve Original , a rum from Saint Lucia which sums up the English tradition on its own.
The Rum Route:
The sharpness of this white rum is particularly pleasant, and the cane presents itself in a very natural way, intact, elegant and imperturbable. It displays something earthy, its bark is gently peppery and a certain velvety side emerges from the whole. The palate is of the same ilk, with an eau-de-vie as clear and precise as it is gourmet and tasty.
It is a Reimonenq Coeur de Chauffe 50%, a superb white agricultural rum which will work wonders both pure and in a ti'punch.
The Alchemists' Arrangement:
The peppery scents of this arranged rum immediately take us to exotic lands of the Indian Ocean, between India and Madagascar. Wild pepper has a green side, as well as fruity accents of citrus zest. In the mouth, the taste buds warm up gently, with a pepper that gives voice, but which is balanced by the sweetness of the drink. Its flavors remain on the tongue for a very long time.
It’s a Wild Pepper arranged rum, very tasty and addictive!
5 December
24 Days of Rum:
In a copper pot, nuts roll happily in boiling caramel. A few almond nougat and a cone of popcorn also spread their scent in this noisy funfair. The rum sticks to the palate, like the hot caramel that was mentioned on the nose. It then develops a slight bitterness of walnut husk and coffee.
It’s the Cane Island Nicaragua 12 years , a concentrate of caramelized almonds!
The Rum Route:
Here we are faced with a rather atypical profile, a little shy at first but mysterious as hell. There is an atmosphere of leather, liquorice, with a deep side. Then the curtain rises quite quickly on a very fatty nut paste, made of peanut, almond and hazelnut. The mouth combines the liveliness of the cane and that of the tannins, in a peppery and woody flight that delights the palate by developing a beautiful and long complexity.
This is a Rhum JM 2016 French oak Chauffe Troplong Mondot, which offers a superb dialogue between cane and wood.
The Alchemists' Arrangement:
A great wind of freshness blows under our noses, with a huge armful of fragrant, juicy, bitter and acidic citrus fruits. The palate starts under the same auspices, with intense flavors of combava with a deliciously bitter skin, then a spicy element comes to shake it all up and warm the taste buds.
It’s a Chili Pepper – Combava rum , which warms us up as winter approaches!
6 December
24 Days of Rum:
The oak bark is delicately perfumed, and especially roasted at first. When the dark varnish applied by the fire is allowed to fade, floral notes joyfully take flight, sometimes velvety, sometimes more heady. On the palate, the floral aromas become fruity flavors, gently caught up by a toasted oak that coats them with spices and caramel.
It is an Arcane Délicatissime , a Mauritian rum more natural and woody than the famous Extraroma from the same brand.
The Rum Route:
This is a generous and cheerful rum, full of sunshine. The cane juice is more than ripe and carries the aromas of a tropical market filled with very ripe mangoes, jackfruit, exotic spices and medicinal herbs. A current of air circulates between the stalls, and a slew of citrus fruits and peppercorns invite themselves there. The palate is as sunny and colorful as the nose, and the rum retains its truly joyful character.
It is a Rhums du Sud Agricole ESB from the Guillaume de Roany collection , distilled in the Antilles and matured in Provence, just the thing to escape the cold of winter!
The Alchemists' Arrangement:
The nose is charming and gives us notes of very sweet red fruits, flowers with heavy velvety petals, all with a rather controlled sweetness. These flavors spread slowly in the mouth, with a lot of suavity. The roundness of this arranged rum takes us into a very soft, sweet and cottony universe like a candy floss.
It is a Jouvence arranged rum , with aphrodisiac virtues…
7 December
24 Days of Rum:
The woody American oak character has an air of burnt straw, with reflections of toasted nuts, vanilla, caramel, as well as quite powerful blond and brown tobaccos. All this flies away with a certain lightness, which is also found in the mouth, accompanied by a pleasant roundness. The oak continues to deliver its gourmet flavors, with a little cocoa as a bonus.
It is a Mezan Chiriqui , a light and balanced rum from Panama.
The Rum Route:
What a lovely nose! The woodiness is as powerful as it is smooth, and we can recognise the art of the Martinique cellar masters. The tannins of the wood have been transformed into dried fruits entirely candied in cane juice, and the elegant spices tell us about a cigar box. The first kiss of this rum is silky and delicate, the spices and tannins offering a little relief that subtly caresses the taste buds. A little acidity appears in the middle of the mouth, reminiscent of an orchard fruit whose freshness has been preserved.
It’s a 12-year-old Trois Rivières , a little gem from the AOC Martinique.
The Alchemists' Arrangement:
The nose evokes a fruity syrup with aromas of pears, with notes of barley sugar. The ginger awakens when the glass is swirled, it then brings a certain vegetal and peppery freshness. On the palate, the ginger and the wood bark candied with cane sugar come together in a slow and languorous dance, then the fresh and peppery flavors of the ginger settle in the length.
It’s a fresh and invigorating Ginger Bois Bandé arranged rum!
8 December
24 Days of Rum:
This rum ventures into familiar territory, between nuts coated in sweet caramel, vanilla, toasted white oak and chocolate. And we can say that it does it well! The score unfolds without a hitch, between woody gourmandise and sweet spices. The seduction enterprise continues with great softness on the palate, a sweet texture that generously coats the palate with gently spicy notes.
It is a Ron Cristobal Pinta , a very round rum from the Dominican Republic, carried by the aromas of the American oak barrel.
The Rum Route:
We needed a big ray of sunshine on this December 8th! The ripe and sweet cane transports us directly to the warmest months of the Antilles, in a field surrounded by fruit trees, not far from the sea and the tropical forest. We are well settled, and the panorama continues to build in the mouth; the details are refined, the ripe cane is always closer.
It is a Braud & Quenesson Parcellaire 52.3% , a superb rum from the Martinique region.
The Alchemists' Arrangement:
Let's go picking together, in this tropical orchard where the fruits are perfectly ripe. Colorful and fragrant, they are just waiting for us to deliver their aromas. The passion fruit is sufficiently coated in sugar to lose all its acidity, and the mango is full of freshness. The mouth is round like the flesh of a mango, and the balance of flavors is pleasant thanks to the passion fruit which brings a little sparkle.
It is a Mango Passion arranged rum, very exotic and gourmet.
9 December
24 Days of Rum:
Boarding complete, direction Jamaica and its well-concentrated "funky rums", full of tropical fruits that are more than ripe (and even well fermented), full-bodied aromas that smell of powder and copper, but also of totally irresistible pastry delicacy. This exuberant side is expressed just as much on the palate, where the fruits seem even (if that were possible) even riper.
This is a Plantation Xaymaca , a true piece of Jamaica in a bottle.
The Rum Route:
Imagine a large white flower with the scent of cane juice that would spread its petals all over the room. This is what happens when you put your nose on this agricultural rum full of sugar cane and life. The herbaceous aromas are particularly candied, as are the lime peels that shout out loud "ti'punch!". The mouth is a tsunami of vesou, a warm wave of cane juice that carries wheelbarrows of fruits and cut vegetables that are almost resinous, adorned with coppery and mineral nuances.
It is a HSE brut de colonne , a unique experience within one of the most emblematic distilleries in Martinique .
The Alchemists' Arrangement:
Here is a little winter treat, a "comfort" rum with both creamy and sweet pistachio aromas. Despite this roundness, it retains a certain liveliness, and even some tangy notes that add to the delicacy. On the palate, the rum has a thickness that is still as comfortable, which would undoubtedly support a good ice cube without problem. Its milky and sweet sides always compete for the primacy of the pistachio flavors.
It’s a pistachio cream, a very delicious and consistent recipe.
10 December
24 Days of Rum:
A nice surprise when approaching this Ecuadorian "ron", with a generously fruity profile and depth. A coppery and pastry character stands out, as well as a candied vegetal side; we are definitely in the presence of a rum that has things to tell. The palate does not betray our expectations, and continues to surprise with a character close to that of a pure cane juice rum. The woodiness adds some spices, a little spiciness, for a pleasant and tasty experience.
This is a Romero & Sons Solera Especial , a beautiful discovery in a blend of molasses and pure juice.
The Rum Route:
Like a harlequin candy that is rolled out of its packaging, this agricultural rum unfolds "tutti frutti" aromas, full of colors and tangy notes. This candy becomes more and more tropical with time, while a little woody patina is slowly laid. The tannins mixed with spices gain in size, and stretch into dried fruits. Lovely! Fluidity and presence are the key words in the mouth, with a very "easy" texture and intense flavors.
It’s a 9-year-old Dillon XO , an agricultural treat that just begs for seconds!
The Alchemists' Arrangement:
The thickness of this heavy and opaque cream announces a great delicacy, which we imagine to be milky and pastry-like. The sweetest notes develop some tangy scents, then nuances of biscuit dough begin to emerge. As expected, the cream spreads on the palate and coats the taste buds, with a milky and sweet side, as well as a rather discreet biscuit side.
It’s a Speculoos cream, a delicious and well-coated specialty.
11 December
24 Days of Rum:
The notes of red and black berries, nuts and oxidation remind us of wines like sherry, Madeira or port. They surround the rum with a velvety and elegant case, without however smothering the ripe cane. A typical identity of Madeira rums then develops, both round and slightly sulfured. On the palate, one sometimes has the sensation of tasting a soft cigar, marked by cocoa, sweet spices and patinated vegetal, always coated with this unique woodiness.
This is a William Hinton 5 Cask Blend, a Madeira rum to discover!
The Rum Route:
It is an earthy cane that welcomes us, solid, robust, firmly planted in the ground and agitated by the winds. Its bark is thick, full of pepper, and its sweet fiber carries aromas of steamed vegetables. While we have the impression of accessing deeper into its flesh, it becomes more and more tender, almost biscuity. This is confirmed in the mouth, with a round attack immediately blown by a burst of warm and gourmet power.
It is a Bielle Canne Grise , a must-have white rum from Marie-Galante.
The Alchemists' Arrangement:
Like a delicate flower blooming in the glass, the rum reveals its pale and subtle colors. The red fruits are slightly resinous, like a cherry and its stone, and everything is expressed with beautiful accuracy. The mouth is round, and the cherry is very clearly outlined, so that we taste its flesh, both fresh and sweet, very natural.
It’s Alsace Cherry Rum , a local recipe made successfully by the Alchemists.
12 December
24 Days of Rum:
It’s a very large bouquet of spices that opens under our nose, with cinnamon, cardamom, nutmeg and orange peel galore. The dark color announces a caramelized and vanilla depth that already invades the room. Over time, it transforms into a cola bubblegum, with a touch of ginger. The mouth is round like an orange liqueur with Christmas spices, in which a few banana candies have fallen.
It’s an Ariki Black Rum, a Tahitian spiced rum to drink in a chilled cocktail!
The Rum Route:
The aromas of fresh sugar cane still surface on the surface of this aged rum chiseled with candied lime peel. Then the cane juice becomes more and more cooked and honeyed, and naturally resonates with a finely spiced woodiness. The oak barrel then seems very tender to us, like almond nougat. The mouth does not lose sight of the cane either, its patinated juice is enriched with sparkling spices, soothed by a slightly woody spring honey.
It is a Karukera cuvée Saint Malo Guadeloupe, an agricultural wine bottled for the Route du Rhum 2022.
The Alchemists' Arrangement:
A radiant and fruity sun illuminates this arranged rum, refreshed by notes of lime, lychee and passion fruit. We are in the middle of a tropical paradise, nourished by both heat and fresh springs. On the palate, the lemon is balanced by the roundness of the rum, and is perfumed by passion fruit in the length.
It’s a Passion Lime arranged rum, a fresh and delicious recipe.
13 December
24 Days of Rum:
Let's go on a journey between the Canaries and Cognac, with this rum with vinous nuances that evoke the old cellars of Charente. A few toasted bursts enhance this profile, accompanied by sweet spices like vanilla, to find a nice balance. Over time, the rancio marries with the nuts for a very nice patina. The sweetness in the mouth is quite surprising, but it is quickly taken up by a fairly advanced roasting, which draws on caramel in the length.
It’s a 6-year-old Rum Explorer Canary Islands , from the Aldea distillery, very tasty!
The Rum Route:
Our nose settles on a mellow, quiet, very rounded agricultural rum. Don't get me wrong, it also shows character with a naturally fermented cane with bittersweet reflections, but the whole is polished enough to deliver a most comfortable experience. The palate is remarkably accurate, with a well-adjusted power, a cane swollen with fruit and a finish on lime zest.
It’s J.Bally 55% rum, a reference from Martinique!
The Alchemists' Arrangement:
A raspberry that is more real than nature jumps out at us, with all its color and its invigorating aromas. It is further encouraged by a tangy, fresh and slightly spicy rum. On the palate, the spicy side of the ginger gently warms the palate, before being joined by the small raspberry seeds which then spreads its velvety flavors in the length.
It is a Raspberry Ginger arranged rum , which offers a very pleasant natural sensation.
14 December
24 Days of Rum:
A crisp bubble of American oak explodes under our noses, with a certain lightness coupled with a freshness with citrus nuances. This rum claims nothing other than a sparkling bouquet of vanilla, caramel and blond tobacco, and that's already not bad. It is round and pleasant on the palate, without losing its gently spicy and frankly vanilla sparkles.
This is a Cihuatan Indigo , a rum from El Salvador to serve on any occasion.
The Rum Route:
The cellar master seems to have scraped some very fatty nuts from which he extracted a paste that he generously spread on the walls of his barrels. The almond, the hazelnut, and even the peanut are almost palpable and come to coat a mature and fruity cane juice. The spices come to bind the whole with time, and continue to provide the common thread on the palate which receives a nice massage of tannins as well as an elegant assembly of ripe fruit juices in the finish.
It’s a Hardy VO , a rare expression of Martinique, as delicious as it is exotic and elegant.
The Alchemists' Arrangement:
The mint leaves have just been crushed, the lime is barely squeezed and the rum is poured: time for the mojito! This arranged rum is a memory of summer evenings refreshed by the star of cocktails of recent years. On the palate, the mint has the same natural character as on the nose, then the sweet lemon distills a little of its subtle bitterness.
It’s a Mint Lime rum, a recipe that highlights fresh herbs.
15 December
24 Days of Rum:
Here is a nose that we will look at more than once in order to grasp the interesting complexity that composes it. Very ripe tropical fruits, almost creamy, strange spices that pull towards confectionery, an exotic woodiness, then an animal side that becomes powdery, toasted, little by little coppery. This complexity does not lack harmony, and is revealed in the mouth with an elixir of spices and dried fruits, enhanced with orange peel and tropical fruit juice.
This is a Naga Anggur Edition , with a unique and intoxicating personality.
The Rum Route:
The approach is frank and powerful, but without aggression, everything is at the service of the aromas. It is a soft woodiness that reaches us first, with an almost brioche-like fiber, full of vanilla and blond tobacco. The cane appears as if candied, lacquered with a tonka bean honey. The mouth is at the height of the nose, warm and vibrant, with a little bitterness of citrus zest that recalls the firmly agricultural identity of this rum.
It’s a Papillon Finish Rivesaltes, a lovely surprise that brightens up a day!
The Alchemists' Arrangement:
A hint of orchard air hovers over our arranged rum, with fresh white fruits like apple, pear, or of course quince. We could almost perceive its perfumed flesh, with its very particular grain, here caressed by a ribbon of vanilla. The mouth also shows a certain freshness, and seems quite unsweetened at first, until the vanilla comes to stick tenderly to the lips.
It is a Quince Vanilla arranged rum , a balanced recipe with delicate fruitiness.
16 December
24 Days of Rum:
Let's go on a crossing aboard a British Navy ship, with barrels of rum and gunpowder in the hold. The sailors are loaded with spices, exotic woods, and burn some nuts on deck. The palate adds a layer of roasted, powdered nuts, with an oxidative side that frankly recalls sherry, which is even supported by a certain sensation of roundness.
This is a Cane Island Guyana XO , an idea of the style of rum that sailors of the British Empire might have drunk.
The Rum Route:
The nose is an explosion of melted tannins garnished with fruits and vegetal notes, but also full of spices and brown tobacco. The aromatic power of this rum is striking, the barks of exotic woods shouting their colors to whoever wants to hear them. The mouth is as impressive as the nose, with a melted woodiness that strongly imprints the palate, spreading large layers of dried apricots and other dried but still very fatty yellow fruits.
It is a Saint James Vintage 2005 , which offers us an impressive woody jam.
The Alchemists' Arrangement:
Christmas spices gently tickle the nostrils, taking us into a kitchen where cinnamon cookies are being prepared. At the heart of these generous cakes, we imagine a cooked apple, lightly caramelized. The mouth warms like a wood fire, or more precisely like a 5-spice mix. We continue to think of cinnamon rolls, with a boost of ginger and cooked apple.
It’s a Apple Spice rum, which transports us into the magic of Christmas.
17 December
24 Days of Rum:
As we open a jar of exotic fruit jam, a good pinch of spices that are both sweet and sparkling sparkle under our noses. For its part, the very vegetal cane mixes with still very green tannins. The mouth is rather tonic, with multi-colored peppers, fine and precious spices, without forgetting a chewy cane, round and fleshy.
It’s a JM Epices Créoles Rum , a dive into the paradise of Northern Martinique.
The Rum Route:
This short aging seems to reveal a rum with a gently wild character, which seeks in the aromas of ripe cane, from the fermentation of its bittersweet juice. This same aging poses a pretty patina, waxed and honeyed, to preserve the plant and give it velvety. The harmony concludes in the mouth, at the heart of a brioche woodiness, caressed by a thick cane juice with almost resinous and iodized accents.
It is a Papa Rouyo K1 – 7 Months 5 Days , a skillfully handled local rum.
The Alchemists' Arrangement:
This recipe lands us in the middle of a fruity fireworks display, dominated by a fresh and tangy raspberry on one hand, and by a passion fruit with explosive aromas on the other. The palate is rather sweet and more reminiscent of harlequin candy at first, with this little sweet and tangy hint. The fruits then remind us of their natural side, for a long finish on passion fruit.
It is a Raspberry Passion arranged rum, an energetic recipe overflowing with aromas.
18 December
24 Days of Rum:
The slight smoke and roasted aromas that emanate from the glass remind us of an American oak barrel that has undergone repeated assaults by a live flame. However, there are no carbonized or even burnt notes, but rather caramelized and vanilla nuances, as well as a hint of orange peel. The palate shows a slight coppery, almost tarry touch, then gourmet flavors of vanilla and other sweet spices.
It’s an Infernal Rum n°Five , a rum from Guatemala that lives up to its name.
The Rum Route:
The nose rests on a candied, soft and comfortable cane. We settle in as if on a cloud or on a cotton ball. This cane is very natural, and we find its faithful notes of pepper, lime zest, as well as the sweet and sour side of its fermented juice which takes off in powerfully floral and fruity aromas. We are delighted to find this melt-in-the-mouth, where more mature and honeyed flavors await us.
It is a La Mauny Acacia , a subtly coated and velvety agricultural rum.
The Alchemists' Arrangement:
Here is an arranged rum filled with joy and colors, with an exotic fruitiness that immediately explodes out of the glass. A certain freshness also reigns there, with a tangy rum whose highest notes will join the white flowers. The mouth is very gourmet, so much so that one has the sensation of tasting a passion fruit sorbet.
It’s a Passion Ylang arranged rum , a large bubble of fresh fruit.
19 December
24 Days of Rum:
This is a rather original nose, which combines both the lightness of the distillate and the strength of the oak. The rum seems to have cleaned the entire roasted surface of the barrel, taking away some notes that briefly touch on oil and hot metal. The palate is round and offers us a gourmet caramel garnished with sweet spices.
This is a Belizean Blue Signature Blend , a rather light Belizean rum that has borrowed all of its flavors from the oak barrel.
The Rum Route:
The air that blows on this white rum is rather spicy and intensely vegetal, with resinous plants, liquorice, all underlined by the sweet juice of a very ripe cane. The anise and liquorice even intensify at times, to produce a minty freshness. The mouth contrasts slightly with the nose, because if we find our liquorice cane juice, we trade the freshness for a velvet touch.
It is a Longueteau Parcellaire n°4 ,
The Alchemists' Arrangement:
The nose of this arranged rum is like a barley sugar, it seems both tangy and crunchy, with some roundly spicy nuances. Very soft in the mouth, it develops nuances of rather pale red fruits, as well as a very slight bitterness caught up by the sweet flavors of this "candy" rum.
It’s a Hibiscus Litchi arranged rum, a very “confectionery” recipe.
20 December
24 Days of Rum:
As we unwrapped a well-concentrated fruit paste with exotic fruits, oily and coppery nuances reached us. Guava and its seeds came to mind, as well as starfruit, and why not a cherry whose pit would be tarred around the edges. The palate is tasty and complex, with intense tannins but without astringency, black and red fruit skins, and always this oily and coppery side now in the form of caramel.
It is a Rivière du Mât Vieux , which offers a unique and well-marked identity.
The Rum Route:
Let's push open the door of the cabinetmaker's workshop, and discover waxed, encausticated exotic essences, whose powerful tannins have been transformed into gold. The dried fruits are hyper aromatic and are accompanied by a piercing acidity, whose freshness is tempered by a thousand elegant spices. On the palate, the green tannins become passion fruit, while their resinous side changes to liquorice. The acidity is simply there to serve the aromas, since the rum is round and enveloping.
It’s a Depaz VSOP , an excellent Martinique rum!
The Alchemists' Arrangement:
The exotic fruits that swell under our noses are refreshed by vegetal notes and a little breath that recalls ginger or pepper. In the mouth, the roundness is the first thing that we discover, before finding the flesh of a very ripe and fleshy pineapple. Finally, the vegetal and fresh notes come to close the march and last over time.
It’s a Pineapple Chili rum, a recipe that is both fresh and delicious.
21 December
24 Days of Rum:
It is a simple but generous nose that emerges at first approach. All in control, the rum deploys the well-adjusted power of a relatively light distillate, crowned with the spicy and toasted aromas of aging, as well as a fruity and oxidized side reminiscent of fruits in brandy. The palate offers personality, with a well-developed fruit in brandy side that brings a certain minerality as well as a pastry side.
It is a Whistler Master Solera , a South African rum that has benefited from careful aging.
The Rum Route:
This rum sends aromas of fresh cane to the four corners of the room, like a great fresh wind accompanied by a burst of sunshine. We are as close as possible to the exit of the distillation column, with this concentrated and precise brandy, rigorously embroidered with fruits and flowers. We are then surprised by the sweetness found in the mouth, despite a degree that we imagine to be relatively high. Pepper and chili pepper are added to the lime zest, for a very clean finish.
It is a Damoiseau L'Expérience 69 , a stylistic exercise for the Grande-Terre distillery which proves its ability to also do goldsmithing.
The Alchemists' Arrangement:
This arranged rum offers us a nose as intense as its color, with a very acidic and perfumed lemon pulp, full of freshness and strength. If we pay close attention, at the heart of the sweet side of the rum lies a small blueberry with a thick skin. In the mouth, the lemon loses all acidity and bitterness, and becomes exclusively gourmand. Its skin and that of the blueberry bring a little delicacy to the finish.
It’s a Blueberry Lime arranged rum , a lovely dialogue between the two fruits.
22 December
24 Days of Rum:
The rum surprises and works its charm without delay, with a rich and elegant woodiness, full of fine spices and tannins melted into dried fruits. It seems like a woody "made in Martinique", with a toasted nut paste and an intensely attractive vegetal side. The palate is light in terms of texture, but deeply tasty. The exotic and elegant woodiness is adorned with well-felt nuances of caramel and coffee, which coat our dried fruits and spices.
This is a Mocambo Single Barrel 20 years old , an extremely seductive Mexican rum!
The Rum Route:
A large bouquet of heady flowers opens in the glass, encouraged by a basket of potpourri rich with fruit peels and exotic trees. The ripe and weathered cane shines at the heart of a woody intensity made of fruity and resinous tannins, garnished with coffee, nuts and walnut husk. The palate leaves no doubt about the agricultural identity of the rum, and we take pleasure in finding a pure fresh and tasty cane juice, richly embroidered with the woodiness that we admired on the nose.
It is a 3-year-old Clément brut de fût Chauffe H+ , a solid and elegant wooden case for a lovely cane brandy.
The Alchemists' Arrangement:
It is on the confectionery side that L'Arrangé des Alchimistes went to choose its spices. We are in the middle of the Christmas market, with orange peels, cinnamon, nutmeg, as well as a generous handful of vanilla pods. The rum is round but fluid, with rather delicate sweet spices reminiscent of gingerbread and cola cocktails.
This is a Spicie spiced rum , ready to be mixed into a variety of festive cocktails!
23 December
24 Days of Rum:
Here we are at the edge of a large copper pot, where almonds and peanuts roll and re-roll happily in a hot and sticky caramel. They have been toasted and even roasted beforehand, and their gently spicy aromas spread gently. The palate gives way to a slightly fruity rum, with some tangy red fruits, then the toasted and caramelized oak takes over.
It is a Cartavio Solera 12 years old , a rum from Peru with flavors of toasted and caramelized nuts.
The Rum Route:
The discovery begins with a rather clean and precise agricultural rum, with an almost mineral freshness that gradually takes on lemon colors. The cane also gains a greener tint over time, initially pale and velvety, then mixed with honey and nougat, with a hint of pepper that tends to strengthen. The mouth is as tender as it is tasty, and the sweet cane juice infuses the palate with its gourmet woody flavors.
It’s a La Favorite Exploration n°3 , a young rum coated with an attractive woodiness.
The Alchemists' Arrangement:
No deception on the merchandise, the nose is inhabited by a powerful chili pepper that deploys its vegetal and spicy notes beyond the roundness of the rum. It is not without a certain apprehension that one brings the glass to the mouth, and indeed one must proceed with caution! The hot and spicy chili pepper seizes the taste buds, which are barely calmed by a small sweet sensation.
It is a rum arranged with Antillean pepper , to be drunk with caution, but a delight for lovers of spice!
24 December
24 Days of Rum:
Toasted American white oak immediately makes its roasted and spicy mark, with aromas of toast, vanilla, blond tobacco and toasted coconut. However, a certain fruitiness seems to take over with a plum or apricot jam, like the one used to glaze rum babas. The palate is balanced and rich in sweet spices, with vanilla and cinnamon dotting a coconut cream.
It is a Kaniché XO , a Barbados rum typical of its tradition, with a touch of fruit jam as a bonus.
The Rum Route:
The woodiness of this rum undoubtedly reveals a great age, years during which the tannins have changed into fruits, while taking on precious spices. It took time for all this to blend and harmonize, creating new nuances and new layers of complexity. The palate seems to deliver something simpler at first, with a very fluid and slightly tannic touch, but the woodiness then unfolds into a thousand complex flavors, sometimes jammy, sometimes spicy like a cigar box, then vegetal like a cane and the fields that surround it.
It is a Cuvée La Salle XO , a very old rum from Martinique.
The Alchemists' Arrangement:
The profile of this arranged rum seems very round, swollen with the sugar of ripe fruits and cane. The sweet and almost milky strawberry joins the delicacy of lychee, for a rather subtle recipe. The mouth is round like a barley sugar with bursts of red fruits.
It is a Strawberry Lychee arranged rum , a delicate and subtle recipe.