Clement Vieux Agricole Select Barrel

Rhum Clément is produced and estate bottled at Habitation Clément in Le Francois, Martinique. Habitation Clément is considered the Mecca of Rhum Agricole production in Martinique and is the only Créole home listed as a historical monument and is entirely open to the public.

Rhum Clément is a leading producer of A.O.C. Martinique Rhum Agricole. The opposite of industrial rum distilled from molasses, rhum agricole is a true representation of what it means to be pure, natural rhum. Rhum Agricole begins with the finest selection of sugarcanes, which are then pressed to extract a free-run aromatic sugarcane juice, distilled into a crisp and earthy vegetal spirit from the world renowned terroir of Martinique.

Rhum Clément is made from the best selection of the finest sugarcane from Habitation Clément. The harvest time for sugarcane begins at the end of February and finishes sometime in the beginning of May, making this the most important time in the production period.The sugarcaneis harvested as low to the ground as possible in order to get the highest concentration of sucrose. The distillery is within view of the fields to ensure freshness.

Hand selected sugarcanes are crushed to get their natural free-run juice, or Vesou. Organic field yeasts from the sugarcane begin the controlled open-top fermentation. The fermentation period can be anywhere from twenty-four hours to as long as seventy-two hours, resulting in Vin de Canne, or sugar wine, of anywhere between five and nine percent ABV. Fermentation into this sugary wine is what develops the full-bodied flavors and aromas. The longer the fermentation process, the higher the concentration of the aroma.

The Rhum Agricole is distilled in a small single-column copper still, which allows for the strength of the spirit to remain low. The length of the distillation as well as the strength of the Vin de Canne, plays an important part in this process, as does the physical makeup of the still. Small stills produce a heavy and low strength spirit, while the tall stills yields a higher strength and lighter spirit.

Tasting Notes

To achieve the depth of flavour and wonderful mouth-feel for their Rhum Clément Select Barrel Vieux Agricole, the Clément distillers in Martinique choose only the finest casks to create the expression with. Plenty of natural sweetness, which balances the earthy, grassy notes of the rhum agricole superbly.