Three Roll Estate Rhum Agricole

A couple of days after discussing rhum agricole with some friends, I found we had two bottles at home: Three Roll Rhum Agricole and Clement VSOP. It was a welcome surprise, fitting with our tendency to collect spirits. To be fair, my wife is primarily responsible for our rum selection and chose both rhum agricole bottles. She included this one during my recent mezcal purchase from a liquor store in San Diego. I've now tried both rhum agricoles, and they were notably different. Regarding the Three Roll: First, the bottle pictured shows the brand name Cane Land. The name was changed to Three Roll due to trademark issues, but the spirit is reportedly the same. Three Roll is produced in Louisiana at a sugar cane farm with a long history. It is unaged and contains no additives, including sweeteners. This spirit is unlike any rum or any spirit I've encountered before. It's pure grass and vegetation, with a slightly sulfuric note reminiscent of asparagus. Since this is my first experience with an unaged rhum agricole, I will withhold judgment and a rating. While not unpleasant, I don't find it complex or captivating. If I were seeking a vegetal spirit, I would definitely choose a mezcal. This might work well as a mixer, perhaps in a unique mojito variation, but I cannot endorse it. This doesn't mean my perception of the rhum agricole category is negative – the Clement is outstanding. A review of that will follow soon...

This has also been rebranded as oxbow distilling. Strangely, this is rated lower than the dark rum, even though it's superior. It is quite potent, but in a pleasant way. Prominent notes of grass and fresh farm hay are present. A barrel-aged version is also available, which slightly tempers the initial burn.