Overview
Brand: Rhum JM
Origin: Distillerie J.M., Macouba, Martinique, France
Still: Column
Age: 4 years, 9 months
Finish: New French Oak
ABV: 56.1%
Single barrel spirits are great because they offer an uncut, pure expression of a producer's craft at a point in time. That's the case for Rhum JM's Single Barrel program, which highlights their rhum vieux agricole ("old agricultural rhum") in different types of casks at different ages.
This is my first Rhum JM Single Barrel, and I just love the presentation: it's their classic "squat" bottle, with an informative label that is very elegant in its simplicity. Like other brands under the Spiribam umbrella, this Single Barrel label offers a space for stores/groups who select the barrel to feature their logo.
This Rhum JM Single Barrel is a sugarcane juice-based AOC rhum that was column-distilled in Macouba, Martinique, in February 2017. It was then placed in a new French oak barrel, in which it aged for 4 years and 9 months until November 5, 2021. This single barrel– #17020013– yielded 244 bottles at a strength of 56.16% ABV.
This was selected by Atlanta-based retailer Elemental Spirits Co., a cute bottle shop in the Poncey-Highland neighborhood. I was recommended to visit by Jeff Stockton, Spiribam's Southeast representative, and definitely recommend stopping by if you're in the area. Now, on to the review!
Appearance
Mahogany, low viscosity
Nose
Cabernet, vanilla, toasted marshmallow, red wine vinegar, raspberry turnover, hint of anise
Palate
Vanilla, toasted marshmallow, cooked cranberries, burnt sugarcane, cola, nutmeg
Finish
Medium-long, dry, slightly bitter; vanilla, burnt sugarcane, prune juice, cranberries, nutmeg, cola spices
Rating: 7/10
Summary
While I generally haven't been super impressed with rhum vieux agricole in the past, this Rhum JM single barrel definitely changes that trend. It's got a great mix of cask influence and vegetal sugarcane, presented at a relatively high proof for aged expressions.
The mahogany rhum starts by offering notes of a rich red wine, followed swiftly by vanilla and toasted and caramelized marshmallow; these same notes appear up front on the palate. Slightly bitter burnt sugarcane turns into spicy cola and nutmeg flavors on the back palate, before transitioning to the finish that really wraps all the disparate notes together as the experience trails off.
I feel the 4 years aging in new French oak paid off, yielding a magnificent rhum that is an excellent entry into the canon of the esteemed Martiniquais producer. A great selection by the folks at Elemental Spirits Co.