In the cool, humid hills of Martinique, in the shade of the high winds, the cane buds that will give birth to La Favorite Exploration n°8. The raw material is pure cane juice – vesou – picked during the 2021 harvest. Grown on the family estate, this cane embodies a living and ancestral terroir. Habitation La Favorite, still owned by the Dormoy family, draws on centuries-old traditions, volcanic soils and sea breezes, to produce a rich, vegetal cane juice, carrying the typical notes of an AOC agricultural rum.
Distillation is carried out using the so-called agricultural method, with a Creole column, respecting the traditional balances of the distillery. The resulting heart is clear, concentrated, taut, and already laden with the promise of wood and spices that will emerge later under the effect of aging.
Then comes the third act: aging for three full years in 10 ex-Cognac barrels, carefully selected at the Navarre cooperage. These barrels, which once contained Cognac brandy, convey their nobility: their woodiness, their tannins, their fruity sweetness, as well as the complexity of French oak. The rum's tropical stay in these barrels adds warmth, humidity, and diurnal oscillations—all the elements that shape the breath of wood, the angel's share, the slow exchange between liquid and air.
The label is designed in an eco-responsible, recycled material, containing 95% sugar cane fibers, as if to remind us that every detail, even that of the container, reflects the essence of this rum.
These are the links in a carefully woven chain: from earth to bottle, from cane to barrel, from fermentation to final blend.
Jérémie's tasting notes
On the nose: the aroma of ripe sugarcane and precious oak rises from the glass. As you get closer, the sugarcane becomes even more intense, revealing its typical herbaceous notes, accompanied by a touch of white pepper. The oak is present in the background, perfectly structuring the profile without being overpowering. Citrus notes are also present, but remain subtle. With aeration, the fruity side of the sugarcane expresses itself more fully, reminiscent of ripe orchard fruits.
On the palate: the attack is direct, with notes of ripe, sugar-laden sugarcane, and a peppery touch that never overpowers the profile. The herbaceous notes typical of rhum agricole are evident, particularly caraway seeds. Fruity notes mingle with the whole, notably candied lemon, becoming more pronounced as the tasting progresses. This is complemented by a precious oakiness, which lends a clear structure to the rum as well as a hint of orchard fruits, already perceptible on the nose.
The finish: it is long, with herbaceous and peppery notes of sugarcane, accompanied by a precious woodiness which also reveals a small fruity and roasted touch.
