Husk Pure Cane

Husk Farm Distillery, October 26th 2024, Rum (Cane Spirit) #2 Nose: Sugarcane, fresh grass, pickle juice, green olives in brine, sweet corn (!), yeasty white bread, underripe banana, and a hint of funky aroma. Palate: A smooth, off-dry arrival with cane sugar, grassy notes, green olive, artichoke, banana, and a touch of peppermint. The texture is rich, almost oily, and the spirit seems to get sweeter as it lingers. Finish: Medium length, with grassy notes fading into a slightly funky aftertaste. I previously listed a product here called “Husk Distillers Pure Cane Australian Agricole” a couple of years back. This is the identical spirit but with updated branding, packaging, and most significantly, its name. The prior bottling is no longer produced. The earlier description was accurate but potentially problematic legally. Husk might have aimed to establish a new category, “Australian agricole,” separate from just “agricole,” but “agricole” is a protected designation. They may have faced scrutiny or opted to rebrand internally. Additionally, Husk was the first rum distillery of the new wave in Australia, but numerous other young rum distilleries have appeared recently. Many of these craft agricole-inspired sugar-based spirits, but they cannot legally be called “rum.” The emerging common term is “cane spirit,” and Husk Distillers might have aligned with this trend. None of this detracts from the fact that this is an excellent white rum (let's classify it as such) with a distinct agricole character. It's enjoyable neat or on ice, but it truly excels in a ti’ punch or tiki-style mixed drinks. “Good”: 83/100 (3.5 stars)