Overview
Brand: Providence
Origin: Distillerie De Port-au-Prince, Port-Au-Prince, Ouest, Haiti
Still: Pot
Age: 3 years
Finish: ex-Rum
ABV: 52%
Last time we looked at a rum from Providence, it was an unaged pot still rum that intended to feature the addition of dunder into the fermentation process– a seldom-seen production detail in Haiti.
Today, we're looking at some of the first aged rum to come from Herbert Barbancourt-Linge Jr.'s distillery, bottled by La Maison & Velier under the Providence brand name.
Providence 2020 3 year utilizes a base of fresh-pressed juice from the "Cristalline" varietal of sugarcane, as well as dunder. The distillate was produced in 2017 via Providence's pot still before being casked in barrels previously holding Providence rum; originally, these were new American oak casks with a #2 char. In 2020, after 3 years of aging in Haiti, the rum was bottled at 52% ABV.
For transparency, this bottle was provided to me by a brand representative, with no obligation other than to enjoy the rum.
Appearance
Light gold, medium-low viscosity
Nose
Honeycomb, butterscotch, vanilla wafer, orange peel, cane sugar
Palate
Fresh sugarcane, vanilla custard, candied orange, honey, tropical spices (cinnamon, nutmeg, clove, allspice)
Finish
Long, savory, dry; vanilla, toasted sugarcane, butterscotch, cinnamon syrup, orange peel
Rating: 8/10
Summary
This 3 year rum is quite enjoyable. It doesn't present as roughly as some other similarly-aged sugarcane juice-based rums do, despite being over proof.
Mostly, I get slightly earthen sugarcane, sweet butterscotch, orange peel, and several types of tropical spices. The nose is fruitier than the palate or finish, which lean more towards the cane and butterscotch. It's light, yet fully-flavored, and drinks excellently at 52% ABV.
Honestly, this is exactly what I think Haitian rums should aspire to be. I hope we see more aged releases from Providence, including bottles that are geared towards cocktails, since this one works perfectly as a sipping rum.