Saint James VSOP is an example of the best Martinique has to offer. This AOC rum is distilled from pure cane juice in a traditional Creole column. It is aged between 4 and 6 years in oak barrels, in a tropical climate that ensures intense maturation. The angels' share amounts to around 8% each year, ensuring optimum concentration. It's quite a feat to offer a rum of this quality at such a reasonable price. This is an authentic rum, with an unbeatable price/quality ratio!
Nico's tasting notes
The nose opens with a typical spicy woodiness, highly representative of the Martinique style. The pure cane juice rum finds all its bearings here, blending into the oak decor with remarkable ease, without becoming a wallflower.
Aeration opens up the aromatic profile a little, revealing a slightly brighter woodiness. The fruit now emerges from the clearing, very ripe, even dried, and rolled in a good handful of sweet, elegant spices.
The palate is fluid but flavorful, with an imposing but already well-melted woodiness. The pepper crushes its grains and spreads its flavors across the tongue, without ever burning it. We then enjoy a cane covered in a leather of a thousand peppery flakes, candied with honey and sweet spices.
The finish gives way to some dried fruit, but it's molten oak that takes center stage.
"A rum that loves wood, and knows how to handle it with class..."