Depaz Vieux Plantation draws its aromatic richness from its terroir, but also from the three years (minimum) it has spent in small oak barrels.
This promiscuous maturation gave it its complex character.
Nico's tasting notes
On the nose, the woodiness sets the tone, very present in a raw, white and fresh form. It contains a very ripe cane with fermented juice, seasoned with a blend of curry spices and, above all, pepper. The spiciness of the wood is reminiscent of a cigar box made of exotic essences. Dried fruits such as apricot develop next, with the blend gradually enriched by other fruits, up to and including dried strawberry. These dried fruits radiate and brighten the rum's profile, even eclipsing the wood that was so present at the start.
As the rum takes on air, we notice a hint of caramel. It gains in amplitude, seems to confide in itself and becomes increasingly generous. Cinnamon is added to the spicy bouquet, and pepper is ever-present. The woodiness makes a winning comeback, and the rum takes a few drier turns. The wood carries the spices and dried fruit, and leads the way. Prolonged contact with the air gives the rum a vegetal aspect, perfumed with menthol and aromatics.
The palate is dry and woody. The rum then grabs the taste buds for attention, releasing its spicy, highly perfumed notes of aromatic herbs. The resinous wood offers a camphorated edge, and the rum is full-bodied but balanced, not overpowering. It's fun to watch the aromas unfold, one after the other in no particular order: cane, pepper, almond, fig, dried banana - in short, a lovely complexity delimited by very well-controlled wood.
The finish is long, spicy above all else, with a frank taste of pepper and a dry, serious character.
"Once again, the Depaz distillery demonstrates its exceptional expertise in creating a symbiosis between agricultural rum and oak barrels..."
