"rhum agricole" news and stories

Clément Première Canne Rhum is 40% abv. / 80 proof. This is a premium white rum that is estate bottled and Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée Martinique, produced and bottled in French Martinique. It is made by the same folks who make Clément Creole Shrubb orange liqueur. Première Canne is distilled from pure cane crush, as opposed to many rums which are made from molasses, and so is what is referred to as a A. O. C. Rhum Agricole.

Habitation Clément's Rhum's may just be some of the finest rums made in the world. Since they are in the rum agricole style which lends itself to producing dryer, almost cognac like rums of great complexity. Every single rum they make is good enough to be considered a sipping rum to have out of a snifter or on the rocks. But with so much going on that they make extra-ordinarily good cocktails as well.

Habitation Clément created what is now called A. O. C. Rhum Agricole back when it was first purchased by Homère Clément in 1887. Martinique was known to produce the best quality sugar in the world, but at a steeper cost than elsewhere. At the time there developed a sugar crisis on Martinique as Europe started buying less expensive sugar from Central and South America.

Rhum Clément Creole Shrubb liqueur is 40%abv. / 80 proof. It is a Curacao orange liqueur produced and estate bottled at Habitation Clément in Martinique, and it has only recently become available in the US.

It has a medium light body to it and is a light orange gold in color. The aroma is an intoxicating blend of Curacao orange peels and musky Rhum Agricole, with a touch of exotic tropical spices.

The taste is much less sweet than similar orange liqueurs and very smooth on your tongue. It has a deliciously sharp and slightly bitter orange zest flavor that wakes up your palate immediately. I find that there is a complex, and quite different orange flavor than I have experienced with other orange liqueurs. It is tart and tangy, as well as full and round. The bitter orange is balanced nicely with the sweetness from pure, freshly crushed, sugar cane syrup and a sprinkle of Caribbean spices. The whole liqueur is carried on a solid base of fine, dry, wood aged rum. It has an extraordinarily long finish, rich with the essence of orange, rum, wood tannins, and just the barest hint of spice that lasts and lasts.

Creole Shrubb is one of the most enjoyable liqueurs I have ever experienced. I hope you get the chance to as well.