Source: Acquired in a trade.
Stats: A Grande Aroma from Le Galion, Martinique’s only distillery still making molasses-based rhum. Bottled at 58.32% by Aficionados for Fine Drams in a run of 600 bottles, it clocks a whopping 481.7 g/hLAA esters.
Nose: Off the bat, heavy dose of nail polish remover. Varnish. Paint thinner. Some underlying notes of fresh bananas. Cinnamon. With time, the chemical harshness has subsided almost completely. This breathes way lower than 58%. Cinnamon is more clearly defined as Churro as the profile is becoming more dessert-like. I’ve finally placed the aroma that I find in HERR and some other high ester bombs that I always disappointingly associate as strawberry jam. It’s Strawberry big league chew! Totally. With the powder residue and all. Some clove comes through. Cherry cola. This is a delight!
Palate: Graham cracker, strawberry jolly rancher, a spike of heat that quickly mellows and lingers in the back of the throat, heavy clove, overripe pineapple, some cinnamon, rotting trash can. Green olives appear in the back of my throat long after my last sip.
I love this stuff. It drinks well below its proof and packs some wonderful flavors. I will more than likely grab a bottle from Fine Drams in the near future.
Rating: 4+
Here’s my scale:
1 – I don’t want this in my mouth ever again
2 – Best used for mixing
3 – Decent sipper
4 – Very enjoyable
5 – I’m buying a back up bottle
Austin Rum Society 