Angel's Share Title
Rhum Clément 10 Year Old Grande Reserve
The cellar master of Rhum Clément of Martinique each year selects different barrels from their warehouses that have distinctive flavor profiles that they believe are worthy of additional aging. These rhums are made from fresh pressed sugarcane juice that has been fermented and distilled using column stills and aged in a combination of virgin and re-charred oak barrels. After the rhums has been aged a minimum of 10 years, it is blended and bottled at 42% ABV. This particular blend met the rigorous qualification to receive the distinguished Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée of Martinique and became part of the brand’s Grande Reserve portfolio.
Rhum Clément 10 Year Old Grande Reserve.
Appearance
The 750 ml bottle is usually sold inside a tube that is covered in information about the product. The 750 ml bottle is a stout, rounded bottle used for Clément aged products. The label, like the tube, provides the consumer with quality information about the rhum. In the bottle and glass, the rhum maintains an amber gold color that has a slight orange hue to it in certain lights. Swirling the rhum creates a thin band around the glass that thickens slightly before releasing waves of slow moving legs. Within minutes, all that remains of the band is some pebbling around the tasting glass.
Nose
The aroma of the rhum begins with a lovely floral vanilla scent, followed by flambéed bananas, fresh cut berries, tangerine, hints of spice, toffee and light oak. There is an almost perfume level nuance to it that I enjoyed evaluating.
Palate
The rhum has an unexpected complexity as it hits much differently than the aroma. The first thing I detect is brown sugar, followed by orange puree that lays down the foundation. Additional sips reveal almonds, baking spices, cooked bananas, cherries, berries (strawberry and blueberry), and fresh made toffee, with earthiness and oak flavors enhancing the fruit flavors and lingering in a long, delicious finish.
Review
Over the years as a reviewer, I have tried quite a few rhum agricoles from various companies that operate in Martinique and Guadeloupe. When I sample one of Cléments’ products, I have an expectation of quality and flavor, especially with their aged expressions. Simply, this rhum exceeded my expectations and any predispositions I had toward their portfolio. This 10 year old Grande Reserve is something special with its fruity complexity balanced by the other flavors in the profile. It is my belief that this is what happens when a company trusts its cellar masters and blenders to be innovative and create something new instead of playing it safe. I hope we get to see more of these kinds of products from Rhum Clément and will be paying close attention to any future Grande Reserve releases.
