The Martinique hails from Rhumerie De Simon which produces AOC Rhum Agricole for the likes of Saint Clement and HSE. This bottling doesn’t fall under the agricole umbrella since it wasn’t fully aged and bottled in Martinique.
Sugar cane juice based, column distilled in 2004, aged 4 years in the tropics and 11 years continentally using cask no. 14 which was an ex-Bourbon one. Bottled in 2019 at 61% ABV with a limited number of 196 bottles and without any additives.
On the nose it feels very tropical. Guava, mango and passion fruit. Saffron, nutmeg, sponge cake and biscuits. Some aniseed, stout and brown sugar as well. Canned plums and blackcurrant. Very inviting!
On the palate there’s a lovely chocolaty note. Hot (cold) chocolate, Demerara sugar, stout and sweet English Breakfast tea. Passion fruit, dried figs, blackberries, ginger beer and red apples. Not a lot of grassy notes from the cane juice. A touch of coriander and cayenne pepper. The finish is long with brown sugar and wood spices.
This is a lovely drop, wouldn’t necessarily say it’s cane juice based, quite moreish and juicy even for its ABV. It was initially priced at around €90 which is a great value for this, too bad it can’t be found anymore.
The Duchess Martinique 15 Year Old score:
Flavour/taste: 59/70
Value for money: 15/15
Transparency/purity: 15/15
Overall: 89/100
Cheers!