Rhum Bielle Canne Grise. It is increasingly rare that I am “out and about” in actual physical spirit stores. Locally I am fortunate to have a shop which is near to my place of work which stocks a lot of rum that they source from The Whisky Exchange. So they usually have a bottle or two that I can pick up should I not wish to wait for a delivery.

That said the number of options and convenience means I usually just buy online to save the possible disappointment of visiting or looking in spirit stores for something half decent or unusual.

Perhaps the best time for me to do any serious “Rum Shopping” is when I am on holiday. Particularly when I am on a cruise, which takes in the likes of Madeira and Gibraltar.

I first visited Gibraltar around 12 or 13 years ago. When I was first exploring more “expensive” rum. On my first visit I picked up a bottle of Pampero Aniversario and Barcelo Imperial. They were only around £10 each at the time.

There is no (or very little) tax and duty in Gibraltar so the price of booze is frankly, compared to the UK – ridiculous. In a good way of course. Though it is a little jarring to find yourself paying the 1/3 of the price of a bottle in the UK and then walk past a Red British Post Box…….

On my most recent visit to Gibraltar I picked this bottle up instantly. Well thats a bit of a fib. I saw it in the first store but I knew there were a lot more to visit and I didn’t want to carry bottles around for a couple of hours. I did instantly decide I was going to buy this bottle though regardless.

Last time i was in Gibraltar I picked up a bottle of J Bally. Which I thought was pretty fantastic. So I had it in mind to pick up a bottle of agricole again this time……..

In all honesty the Agricole selection in Gibraltar was limited to this bottle! The offerings in Gibraltar have always been heavily dominated by the likes of Pusser’s, Havana Club and other brands which are readily available in the UK. Disappointingly I was told by one vendor that Don Papa Baroko was by far the best seller. He also noted the Dead Man’s Fingers, which was also stocked widely wasn’t far behind………….

So I picked up this Rhum Bielle Canne Grise which was only £20 or thereabouts. It is “only” a 50cl bottle but I wasn’t too concerned about that. I hadn’t seen this bottling before and the “Rhum Bielle”, “Canne Grise” and “Mare Galante”) on the front label made it must have purchase at that price.

Rhum Bielle Canne Grise is a white unaged Rhum Agricole produced on the island of Marie Galante. Rhum Bielle have a very good website which is well worth a visit should you wish to learn more. There is also a very good article on 88 Bamboo. I was going to use some of the information in this review but I think you’ll all be much better served reading that article in full.

Rhum Bielle Canne Grise is a monovarietal (one type of sugar cane). This particular sugar cane has been used since the 1960”s. It is popular due to its drought resistance and high sugar content. The rhum is bottled at 59% ABV, which their website reliably informs me is the “strength” that they always issue their White Rhum at.

The Rhum is produced from fresh sugar cane juice and is disitlled on a traditional French Column Savalle Still. It is then rested in steel tanks before being bottled.

It is quite widely available in Mainland Europe but I cannot see a stockist in the UK at the moment for this particular bottling.

In the glass we are presented with a crystal clear spirit. The nose is surprisingly refined. I’m not pouring this at the full 59% ABV and being assaulted with pungent aroma’s from across the room.

The rhum is very grassy and sweet. Lots of freshly cut vegetal sugar cane and a hint of a mineral like note. It’s very sweet in a grassy-sweet way. Not an artificial “sugared” way.

There is some pineapple and a touch of Kiwi Fruit giving a little acidity to the spirit. Rhum Bielle Canne Grise smells very fresh and vibrant – this isn’t  a newly opened bottle. I’ve had it open over a month now. It’s just about gone as well which probably tells you a story………

There is a rich almost cream like note as well double cream and a little bit of white pepper.

Whilst most white agricole is at least “pretty good” I feel that this has a little extra vibrancy and freshness to it than most. I dare say a bottle were it to retail in the UK would be around £40. More perhaps.

The mineral and “stony” elements come through more with each nosing and I’m also getting a touch of smokiness.

Sipped this is quite spicy on the initial sip It’s got a bit more burn and body to it than the nose suggested. Lots of peppery heat and some spicy notes of curry powder.

A few sips in the spiciness begins to subside and you can taste more of the sweet sugar cane that was so prominent on the nose. It’s grassy but the sweetness stops it becoming overtly “vegetal”.

It works nicely as a sipper though the mid palate and finish don’t really show a great deal of development from the initial sip. The finish is a touch on the short side.

Being fair though, this is unaged white rhum. So it should really be shining in mixed drinks – a Ti Punch. It works very well and it really showcases itself. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed this with Lemonade and some ice. It has enough character to still cut through any mixer and give a nice “rhummy” hit.

I don;’t think I have explored Rhum Bielle and Marie Galante enough. I’ll certainly be putting that right in future.