Rhum J.M X.O – Rhum Agricole 70 cl. 45%

Rhum JM X.O Tres Vieux is a rhum agricole from Martinique. It is made from fresh sugarcane juice and has been aged for a minimum of 6 years in oak barrels that have previously been used for bourbon aging. Finally, it is bottled at a quite reasonable 45% alcohol. The result is a completely classic agricole rum that combines the best of tropical barrel aging with fresh notes of sugar cane and the Martinican terroir.

Colour: Amber.
Scent: Oak notes (browned butter and vanilla), dried fruit and ginger.
Tasting notes: Full and spicy in the mouth, with notes of ginger, nuts and hints of vanilla.

Serving suggestion: Should be enjoyed neat.

The plantation where Rhum JM is produced today was originally just a sugar refinery, but when Jean-Marie Martin bought the property in 1845, he switched his focus from sugar to rum. Jean-Marie had quickly spotted that the unique conditions of the fields at the foot of Mont Pelée created sugarcane of an unrivaled quality that would make an excellent rhum agricole. And to this day, 100% of the distillery’s sugar cane is still grown on the steep slopes of the mighty volcano. JM highlights 4 things that are crucial to the terroir: the lush, volcanic soil, the tropical humidity from the low cloud cover, the ventilation from the sea breeze that blows into the volcano and cools the fields, and the good drainage in the steep hillside fields. To preserve all the aromas of the sugarcane, they are pressed within 1 hour of harvesting!

Next to the distillery and the fields are the cellars, where part of the rum is stored for longer periods. At JM, bourbon casks made of American oak are mainly used, but now and then new, unused casks, armagnac casks, cognac casks and calvados casks are also seen. When the casks are burned at JM, it is done by igniting high-strength rum in the cask – an impressive sight!