Damoiseau was bought in 1942 by Roger Damoiseau and is currently the largest distillery in Guadeloupe accounting for more than half of the island’s rhum production. While Damoiseau produces and sells agricole rhum, which is made from sugarcane juice, apparently in the sugarcane off season they do distill molasses.
RumCask, the people responsible for the The World’s First European Online Rum Festival last month, are also the ones that are importing and distributing Damoiseau in the UK via Skylark Spirits. Rhum Damoiseau was featured at the festival and was easily one of the highlights with their Millesime 2009 knocking it out of the park (review here). Damoiseau Rhum Blanc 50 was also in the lineup, and while I already owned a bottle, it was nice to be reminded how tasty raw, unaged sugarcane juice rhum can be and how I need to review more agricoles.
Damoiseau Blanc 50 is sugarcane juice based, fermented for 24-36 hours, distilled in a column still to around 72% ABV and rested for 3 to 6 month in wooden vats. Bottled at 50% ABV and, as per their agricole regulations, it has no added additives.
On the nose it’s grassy as expected but quite fruity as well. Mango, passion fruit, unripe bananas and pineapple juice. Floral and vegetal with some mint and cheese notes. Hints of coconut and cacao in the background. A lot of flavour!
On the palate it starts quite sweet and becomes spicier towards the end. Sugarcane (duh), agave syrup, cardamom, passion fruit again, pineapple, sea salt and white pepper. Coconut water with hints of lavender. Very sippable considering the ABV and the fact that it’s unaged. There’s a bit of green chili earthiness and heat as well. The finish is medium with notes of cardamom, cacao and sea salt.
Not an ester bomb, no wooden still, just a well made rhum accurately showcasing the flavour profile of the raw material. The world of agricole is very underrated and there’s much to discover and taste, but someone has to do it.
In the UK you can find Damoiseau Rhum Blanc 50 on Amazon for £35, great for cocktails, Ti Punches or simply neat.
Damoiseau Rhum Blanc 50 score:
Flavour/taste: 49/70
Value for money: 14/15
Transparency/purity: 15/15
Overall: 78/100
Cheers!
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