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Capovilla Rhum Rhum PMG Rhum Blanc Agricole 56%
Distiller Score 94
The spirit is quite dense and complex with an unrelenting array of aromas and flavors. Rubber band and nail polish (though not oft-putting), freshly cut grass and sugarcane, vegetal green beans and water chestnuts are some of the aromas you first sense. This is followed by grapefruit and orange creamsicle before mineral and metallic notes come through with an oyster brine aroma. It is quite pure and fruity on the palate with notes of raspberry, lemon zest, and tropical fruits like banana and coconut, but there’s also a hint of rubber. Despite its sometimes contradictory flavors, it is completely alluring.
Reviewed by Omari Wheat
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Clément XO Rhum Agricole
Distiller Score 95
The aromas open with leather and licorice, toffee and tobacco. A secondary set of aromas quickly appear represented by coffee, sugar cookies, and candied fruit. The rhum enters with a sublime balance of sweet and smoky oak, black pepper, licorice, and cane syrup. The oaky tannins coat the tongue and despite the perceived sweetness, the silky mouthfeel rapidly dries out completely. Subsequent sips continue to provide anise and licorice notes, as well as saddle leather, rich cigar-tobacco and a hint of grapefruit. Complex and sublime, this rhum is typically well-received by lovers of brandy and whisk(e)y. Not to be missed.
Reviewed by Josh Miller
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Saint James Cuvée 1765 Rhum Vieux
Distiller Score 90
This is a very atypical style and flavor of rhum agricole, with more of the tart and coffee roast flavors taking center stage. A faint butterscotch sweetness comes in at the mid-palate then fades into a long, smooth and dry finish. A touch of tobacco smoke and herbaceousness hits with additional sips of this clean, elegant rum.
Reviewed by Amanda Schuster
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Capovilla Liberation PMG RHUM
Distiller Score 98
The nose is a hypnotic confluence of unrefined sugar, copper pennies, almonds and orange peel coupled with freshly cut sugarcane, coconut flesh, and coffee. If the aromas aren’t enough to cast a spell, the palate will certainly win you over. Fruity flavors of peach skin, pineapple, passion fruit; spicy and rich flavors of clove, anise, and tobacco; and pungent, strange (put not oft-putting) flavors like rubber, petrol, iodine, and Magic Marker. This is a spectacular rhum that slithers seductively along the palate like a serpent.
Reviewed by Omari Wheat
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Clément Cuvée Homere Rhum Agricole
Distiller Score 92
The initial nosing yields virtually no astringency. There is a leather note along with a bit of smoke and tobacco. A grassy sweetness is suggested, as is dried fruit and spices including black pepper, anise and allspice. As the rum enters your palate it is coated with oak as the spices move to mid-palate. There is a bit of cane syrup along with orange marmalade, dried figs, dried apricots and dates here now. In contrast to the sweet imagery, however, the rhum is ultimately very dry. Digging deeper, the smoke and tobacco notes pervade. The finish is dominated by a symphony of licorice/anise/fennel notes.
Reviewed by Josh Miller