Rhum Clement VSOP is 40% abv / 80 proof. It is an AOC Martinique aged rhum agricole, made from pure crushed sugarcane juice, estate produced and bottled. It's been quite awhile since I reviewed any spirits here on Slashfood.com and I have an enormous amount waiting for their chance. My winery, brewery, and distillery projects take up so much of my time and energy that I rarely can fit in a nice sun-downer at the end of the day. The past year or two I have been a big rum fan, and Rhum Clement's products are at the top of my list. Although they do share the spot with a few other excellent rums. When you get to the top tiers the competition isn't really competition, more like a friendly rivalry. I'm enjoying the jostling for position on my tongue.

The Clement VSOP is a deep, dark gold with a hint of amber in color. The aroma is smooth, lush, and fragrant with vanilla and toffee, over an earthy, sensual base. Hints of lush, sexy, moist, dried apricots float on top, with a layer of spice in between; followed by a bare bit of sweetness to round out the nose.

This is a dry, not sweet rum. So it starts dry on the tongue at first, then a rush of big , tropical fruit and nut flavors comes along like a wave. Coconut, mango, papaya, pineapple, all melded together with a touch of the classic earthiness and herbal notes you find in good rum agricole. This is one of those spirits that a few minutes in the glass improve dramatically. What started out as excellent, soon became amazing, with the aroma and flavor becoming more full, warm, soft, and complex. Quiet floral notes started to come out, and then made their presence fully known. Like an orchestra quietly starting a piece of music that ends with percussive power. I recommend the VSOP sipped straight up, on the rocks, or in a premium and well crafted cocktail. It's hard to ask for more in a dry, aromatic rum. Quite a few of my friends agree with me, here's what the Rum Dood, Matt Robold has to say. Now I'm going to enjoy the last tiny sip in this bottle that I have been savoring for over a year, as I kick back after a long, hard day of building my own distillery.