Saint James XO is an emblematic reference from the famous Sainte-Marie distillery. This agricultural rum benefits from the Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée Martinique, whose exacting specifications always guarantee exceptional quality. This is why this pure cane juice rum, aged in oak barrels for less than 6 years, enjoys a truly unique quality/price ratio.
Nico's tasting notes
The nose immediately takes us into a very tropical atmosphere, with moist wood loaded with powerful aromas of exotic fruits and spices. The cane juice is totally candied, but also studded with woody tannins and red fruits.
Aeration brings a breath of fresh air, and the fruits of the orchard shine through. The pear, for example, reveals its delicate aromas and silky flesh. It is then covered by a light caramel coulis with hints of coffee.
The palate is nicely spicy and tannic, highlighting a cane that still bears its fresh, vegetal attributes. In line with this striking entry, a few lime peels take possession of the taste buds for a while, to numb them and feed them with more lascivious flavors.
The finish then offers lovely texture and chewiness, with an ensemble of melted sweet spices.
"A rum that manages to make the most of the woodiness to highlight everything else..."
Stéphane Ti'verre
On the nose 👃🏻: it's a very woody profile, you can tell it's been aged for a couple of years and is very spicy. I've got nutmeg and clove, which take us on to cocoa powder with a slight sweetness. There's something dusty, if I may say so, and a little damp, as if in a cellar. Give it time to open up and magnify. It's like a hazelnut and almond confit that's gradually beginning to take shape, gaining in gourmandise.
On the palate 👅: after a slightly sweet, fruity attack with a note of prune in particular, the wood tannins settle very firmly on the palate, leaving a slightly harsh edge. It's both relatively sweet and very dry. The old oak here also delivers notes of cocoa and nuts at the same time, with nutmeg and clove spices following in mid-palate. Subsequent sips also reveal a very frank roasted side, almost charcoal-like and peppery to boot, but all the while retaining a good cocoa note that passes easily.
The finish is long and continues on this theme. The roasted and cocoa-flavoured side is very nice, still on the very dry side in the mouth where the old wood as such almost manages to be forgotten 👌
Fans of very old, slightly "brut" rums will be delighted. It's distinctive and very interesting to taste after a few minutes, once you've got the hang of it. It's a bit like the VSOP version, which was already very interesting for my taste. The XO will appeal more to enthusiasts, and I'd recommend the VO or VSOP for a novice to the world of rum, to "get your palate right" first 😉