A 1710 La Perle Brute 2021 is a white rum made from pure sugarcane juice. It is produced by the A 1710 rum distillery at Habitation du Simon, Martinique.
This cuvée, named "La Perle Brute", refers to the distillate that has not been reduced before bottling: it is brut d'alambic.
As with the 2020 vintage, the spotlight is on cane from a plot cultivated by Paul Octave. Three varieties of cane are grown on the selected plot: black cane, yellow cane and Pen Epi Lèt.
The rum distillery's Charentais alembic features a 7-plate column, also in copper. This distillation apparatus has been christened "la belle Aline".
Nico's tasting notes
On the nose, we're immediately transported into the thick walls of Habitation du Simon, on one of those mornings when the still is preparing to deliver its first drops. The extremely fresh aromas of ripe cane juice fill the space, lighting it up with licorice-like, almost mentholated nuances.
Aeration reveals a thicker, sweeter cane juice, with vigorously vegetal, herbaceous notes, both green and round. The liquorice flash of cane sugar or cooked juice is still evident, and irrepressibly stimulates the sweet tooth.
On the palate, the warmth of the rum spreads with surprising tranquillity. A few drops are all it takes to appreciate the cane swelling on the tongue, like a thick, oily bubble rising in volume and power. The natural character of the vesou is preserved by this fatty texture, allowing us to appreciate the herbaceous and peppery aromas without any disturbance from the alcohol.
The finish is fruity, slightly bitter and iodized, with a well-flavored lime zest that carries a few drops of brine with it into the length.
"A superb cane brandy, round and sunny... "
