Hardy VO is an AOC Martinique aged agricultural rum. The sugarcane plantations are located on the Caravelle peninsula, benefiting from the sea spray of the Atlantic coast.
The Hardy distillery ceased operations in 1994, and distillation is now carried out by the Saint James distillery in Sainte Marie.
This VO is aged for over 3 years in oak barrels.
Stéphane Ti'verre
On the nose 👃🏻: the first aromas that come to mind are honeyed and woody, with a gourmet touch. The oak is really nice and the fruitiness is not to be outdone, with beautiful notes of grape and orange pulp. This cane juice has real depth and elegance for its age, and we never tire of smelling it. A note of quince emerges on aeration.
On the palate 👅: the rum is nicely spicy and woody. Indeed, I find pepper and nutmeg throughout the tasting. The sweetness is as I expected, at a good level, bringing creaminess and roundness to the attack despite its spicy pep, with a nice honeyed and slightly floral touch. The fruit is present, but comes later, in the background.
The finish is moderately long, turning to oak with nutmeg, and fruitiness with plum. It's also drier, but without leaving too much tannin on the palate 👌
Verdict ⚡️: this is a fine vintage from the Hardy brand, and I really appreciate the elegance of this "young old" wine. A pleasant tasting from start to finish, this is a good Martinique that's just waiting to make a name for itself 👍 If the rest of the range is up to the same standard, that's promising!