Rhum agricole should not be mistaken for other molasses based rums. Unlike it’s molasses based cousins, rhum agricole is made by distilling fermented sugar cane juice. This results in a funkier, more grassy and herbaceous rhum (as opposed to a spicy, brown sugar, caramel, etc rum). Of the locations that primarily make rhum agricoles is the island of Martinique. This appellation d’origine contrôlée (AOC) has specific rules around the geographic areas where the rhum can be produced and how it can be made. The result of this is that rhums have very specific characteristics based on their terroir (soil where they’re grown). Among the most well known and available bottles is Rhum J.M. Blanc.
Rhum J.M. Blanc
Sight: Clear
Smell: The nose starts with beautifully herbaceous notes and an interesting funk. The use of sugar cane juice contributes heavily to underlying character of the rhum. Along with the grassy, herbaceous notes, there are elements of lime zest, honey, and floral notes. A bit of heat emerges as well.
Sip: The rhum has a smooth, weighty body. The flavors of sugar cane and herbaceous notes carry over from the nose. Touches of grapefruit zest and a slightly anisette like note come out. Unripe pineapple and spice comes into play as well. There’s just a hint of heat toward the finish.
Savor: The finish pulls out some unripe starfruit, spices, and more floral notes. The finish is long and a little bit warm.
Rhum J.M. Blanc is right in line with the idea of a sugar cane juice distilled rhum. Not only does it convey the agricultural grassy and herbal notes, but it has some fruit characteristics. It is also generally smooth, but not the sort of rhum I’d be tempted to kick back with a glass of. For the best applications, considering mixing.
In Cocktails
In a Ti’ Punch the rhum opens up nicely, bringing out more notes of the citrus zest and hints of fruit. The subtle sweetness allows the hints of spice and tropical fruit to seem more at home. The ending is smoother as well, and with the brightness, it seems to ask for another sip. Overall, it does well showing off more of it’s character while becoming more inviting.
In Review – Rhum J.M. Blanc
One of the reasons we removed Ti’ Punch off the list of cocktails that could be made using bottles from the beginner home bar setup was the lack of cocktails that call for rhum agricoles. The result is that a rum like Rhum J.M. Blanc is not something you need to keep on your bar. That doesn’t mean it doesn’t have uses or isn’t appealing. Fans of cachaça for example will find a lot to like here, and those who are deep into Tiki drinks should absolutely check it out. Those just starting their cocktail journey should consider other bottles to add to their collection first.