jonwilkinson7309
Three Roll Estate Rhum Agricole
Rhum Agricole Blanc — Louisiana, USA
Reviewed
February 4, 2020 (edited May 10, 2020)
A day or two after exchanging a few comments with @cascode and @bigwhitemike about rhum agricole (rum fermented from crushed sugar cane, as opposed to molasses), I discovered that we have two rhum agricoles in the house, the Three Roll Rhum Argicole and Clement VSOP. It was a pleasant surprise, and a predictable result of a household alcohol collecting habit. In all fairness to me, my wife takes the lead on rum curation and selected both of the rhum agricole bottles. She slipped this one in during my recent mezcal buy a Old Town Tequila in San Diego.
I've now tried both rhum agricoles, which were markedly different. As for the Three Roll -
First, if you haven't noticed, the bottle in the picture features the brand name Cane Land. As I write this review, I'm not intoxicated, in the middle of an 80 hour work week, or suffering from temporary insanity because we have multiple phones ringing constantly in advance of next week's New Hampshire primary. The Cane Land name was changed to Three Roll due to trademark infringement claims. But the rhum is apparently the same.
Three Roll is made in Louisiana at a sugar cane farm that has apparently been active for generations. It is unaged with no additives, including sweeteners.
This is unlike any other rum I've tried, and unlike any other spirit. It is pure grass and vegetation, with a slightly sulphurous note that brings asparagus to mind. Since this is the first unaged rhum agricole I've tried, I'll reserve judgement, along with a rating. While it's not unpleasant, it's not complex or compelling to me. If I was in the mood for a vegetal spirit, I'd be far more inclined to select any number of mezcals.
This might be a very good mixer (perhaps a great mojito variant?), but I can't recommend it. That's not to say my impression of the rhum agricole category is negative - the Clement is fantastic. That review soon...
39.99
USD
per
Bottle
Old Town Tequila Factory Restaurant & Cantina
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@jonwilkinson7309 I am quite interested to taste a few other producers. I’m guessing that un/lightly-aged agricole can be so intense that it’s quite polarizing and either sings or fails, and the distiller’s skill goes a long way. After all, we critique the minutiae of mainstream whiskies while this stuff probably varies much more widely. Either way, cooked asparagus sounds a little funky for my tastes as well, but I’d bet the palate evolves quickly. That being said, small producer niche product just may not be all that good!