I love the way J.M.'s distillate carries the new American oak. They complement each other so well, probably better than any other aging vessel that J.M. uses, if I'm being honest. This excellent cask was filled on 1 December 2015 and bottled on 29 June 2023, so you might think that’s not much time to develop a complex profile, but having spent its entire life in Martinique’s tropical climate does wonders for it. The color is striking, vibrant amber with ruby flecks around the edges. The bouquet pops immediately with red cherry, candy corn, flaky pie crust, and caramel apple. A few drops of water releases a ton of additional character – light tobacco, cooked apricot, red plum, teriyaki, candied pecans, and a faint tease of milk chocolate. The cask character infuses pretty much every corner of the palate profile, but in a way that only suggests its presence rather than declaring it. The agricole heart and soul of the rum is fully apparent the entire way. Assertive, balanced tannic structure supports flavors of red fruit compote, clove, vanilla pod, teriyaki, and a subtle smoky char. The medium-full weight of the mid-palate displays its solid agricole core, carrying to a long finish of licorice, dark forest fruits, and spiced tropical fruits. This one takes water quite well, so don’t be shy about letting it open up to get the full spectrum of expression.
94 points, Andrew Kitz, B-21 Spirits Buyer (Sep 2026)
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