Père Labat 59

This was highly recommended, and it's good, but not quite as amazing as I'd anticipated. The aroma has some grassy sugarcane, but also some surprising elements, almost salty. There's less fruit than in most other agricoles I've had. There's also a considerable amount of alcohol on the nose. That applies even more to the taste, where frankly the alcohol is a bit too dominant for my preference. The saltiness is present again, along with a mineral quality. There's also a bit of lemon and possibly faint hints of other citrus and a general tropical floral fruitiness. The citrus and salt persist into the finish along with a powerful alcoholic presence that comes across as almost medicinal. This is the first agricole I've sampled from Guadeloupe and it certainly stands apart from the Martinique ones I've experienced. I'm unsure how much of that is specific to this distillery or reflects a Guadeloupean style or something else entirely. Regardless, compared to brands like Clement, JM, or La Favorite, this is much lighter on fruit and sugar, and much heavier on salt, minerals, and alcohol. It undeniably retains that sugarcane agricole foundation, but it diverges from there. Additionally, the overall flavor is much "leaner," less rounded and floral, and more sharp and sparse, if that description makes sense. I enjoy it! At this point, I'm not sure what an agricole blanc would need to be like for me to recognize it as agricole blanc yet still dislike it. That said, I don't like it as much as other agricoles I've tried. It's a little too aggressive for me, especially with the alcohol blast, and salt and minerals aren't really my preferred flavor profile. I'm certainly glad I had the chance to try it, though. And, naturally, it makes a good ti' punch, so there are no real downsides here. It cost $43 for a liter bottle, which is roughly comparable to most other agricoles. I won't be purchasing it again immediately, but I wouldn't be surprised if, after some time, my curiosity prompts me to give it another go.

Earthy notes abound, suitable for ti punch or daiquiri, yet it lacks the vibrant raw cane juice character found in other rhums. Sipping score: 3. Mixing score: 4. Given its primary use in cocktails, the overall rating is 3.75.