Neisson Rhum Agricole Le Rhum Vieux par Neisson

Private Barrel selection for Ball Square Fine Wines. Barrel 02-23-2015. 57% ABV. 114 proof. Aged 41 months in French Limousin. Deep amber hue. The nose offers bubbling sugar, vanilla bean, cookie dough, orange zest, and the musty interior of an old cedar chest. Syrupy texture. The palate features layers of vanilla and salted caramel initially, followed by a surge of umami with toasted sesame oil and truffles, concluding with something akin to rubber cement glue spread over decaying collard greens. The finish is lengthy – excessively so. The glue-like decaying vegetable note persists, along with fainter traces of truffles and overripe bananas. Each sip triggers a mild gag reflex. I'm awarding points for a lovely aroma and for being potentially the most intricate and demanding spirit I've encountered. Regrettably, it's too challenging for my palate. I was mistaken to assume my enjoyment of Jamaican rums' funk meant I could directly engage with agricole. Indeed, I was wrong. My palate requires considerable development before I can find this even slightly palatable.

The characteristic oak is present but not overdone. Especially on the finish, the typical sugarcane flavor of agricole lingers for a very long time. It's not very sweet, leaning towards dry. A few drops of water release smoke; they likely use heavily charred barrels.