Longueteau XO 42

Longueteau XO is a blend of 8-year-old agricultural rums. The breakdown between the 8, 9 and 10 year-old Longueteau cuvées is 70%, 20% and 10% respectively. All these cuvées have been aged in oak barrels that previously contained Cognac.

Longueteau XO is presented in a beautiful decanter.

Nico's tasting notes

The nose is expressive and very elegant, with dried and candied fruits. The cane is immediately apparent, however, having been brought out and not masked by an excess of greed. There's plenty of fruit here: banana, apricot, raisin, all nicely stewed. The woodiness is subtle and sews all this together with finesse, with a lightly toasted wood that lets out a few notes of coconut. Cane appears in candy form, while heavy candied fruits (cherry and prune) fall right on top. The impression of elegance is maintained, even though the rum is thick and resinous.
Time will tend to round the edges even more, with dried fruit increasingly lining up alongside candied fruit. The rum is still loaded and exuberant, but it retains its allure, which is truly remarkable. The cane is still king, draped in a finely spiced woodiness. Before dipping our lips, we imagine a full-bodied, heady rum, and a few hints of licorice convince us to take the plunge.

The attack is beautiful and pleasant, and you don't want to analyze what's going on, but you tell yourself it's fine and sweet. There's a winey edge to it, reminiscent of Cognac, but the familiar cane brings us back to the dampness of the West Indies. The impression of resin remains, as the rum's texture is full and present, with a vegetal, peppery feel. These characteristics, borrowed from cane and white rum, are admirably preserved and serve to enhance the complexity of a very old rum that has taken on many other aromas during its long maturation. Dried fruits still shine through, while honey has concentrated fruity and floral flavors. Tannins and spices support the whole.

The finish is persistent, although the intensity let us breathe faster than we would have liked. Dried apricots, prune and mellow tannins will remain endlessly in our memory and on our palate.

"A great, extremely generous old rum that retains its elegance. A classic to discover..."