Archie Rose Virgin Cane Spirit

From a rum tasting event on May 9th, 2019, at The Oak Barrel in Sydney, this was Rum #2. The aroma was predominantly grassy chlorophyll with herbal notes, sugar, and ethanol, plus a slight earthiness and oiliness, strongly suggesting rye white dog. The taste began with a sharp herbal and ginger sensation, followed by sugarcane and pickle juice. Its similarity to rye or wheat moonshine made it hard to believe it contained no grains. The medium finish was drying and somewhat bitter, with the pickle juice note fading into a sweet and sour, grassy aftertaste. This unaged white cane spirit was a limited production of 2,200 bottles from Archie Rose a few years prior. Although it cannot be legally called "white rhum agricole" in Australia due to the lack of classification for unaged rum, its character is similar. The sugarcane was sourced from the mid-north coast of New South Wales, pressed shortly after harvest, fermented, and then triple pot-distilled upon arrival in Sydney before immediate bottling. Having tasted this spirit three times over two years, including at the distillery, each experience yielded the same conclusion: a commendable but ultimately unsuccessful attempt. While I wanted to feel more positively, it simply failed to impress. It offered a profile akin to a blend of white dog, vodka, and rhum agricole, and was not enjoyable enough for sipping. Adding water had no effect. When mixed with fruit juice and sufficient strong accompanying flavors, it served as an acceptable alcoholic base for a tiki drink, though this is faint praise. Compared to similarly priced agricole and white rums, it was clearly inferior. At a much lower price point, it could substitute for budget white rum or vodka, but its high cost makes it unrecommendable. "Inferior": 65/100 (1.5 stars)