Rhum Clement Canne Bleue. Today I am reviewing a Rhum Blanc Agricole from Martinican producer Rhum Clement.

Rhum Clement Canne Bleue is produced from one strain of sugar cane. Blue Sugar Cane which, is grown on the Rhum Clement estate.

The rhum I am reviewing today is the continuous release. In addition to this, Clement also bottle a yearly edition of Rhum Clement Canne Bleue. With different bottle designs and a differing rhum each year.

This particular offering is produced on traditional Coffey Column stills from fresh Blue Sugar Cane juice. It is then rested in stainless steel vats for six months. During this time the distillate is reduced down to the final ABV of 50%.

It is widely available in the UK, you can currently pick up a bottle at just less than £32 at Master of Malt.  Presentation wise it comes in the familiar stubby short necked Rhum Clement bottle. Unsurprisingly, they have went for a largely blue colour scheme with silver and dark blue touches here and there. It’s nicely done and modern. The rhum also has a nice chunky cork stopper.

I’ve reviewed a few Rhum Clement bottlngs in the past. I think my most recent review was the Rhum Clement L’Elixir XO, this is perhaps more towards the opposite end of the spectrum, age and price wise but I find with Rhum Agricole, I enjoy some of the youngest expressions as much as the oldest!

In the glass Rhum Clement Canne Bleue is as expected entirely clear. It has not had any contact with a barrel. Nice.

There are certain types of rum – Hampden Estate or Long Pond from Jamaica. Bounty rum from Fiji and Clairin from Haiti that you really shouldn’t try early on in your Rum Drinking “career”.

Unless perhaps. you have experience of other “full blown” spirits such as Mezcal or heavily Peated Scotch Whisky for example. To jump into something like those rums from say Ron Zacapa or even Plantation is a big jump. Too much for a lot of people.

Unaged White Agricole particularly at a higher proof are like the rums above. Try it to early and you will steer clear for longer than you should. Because once you acquire the taste for such rums, you will find that a mixed drink might never be quite the same again.

That said you might even take to sipping them……which is what I will try next after a bit of nosing.

Very grassy, very vegetal on the nose. Almost sour and very “yeasty”. Big notes of sweet sugar cane. Hints strangely enough of really sweet sugary tea. A little pepper and a touch of chilli. Some intense lemon and lime zest. It may sound awful but it smells a little of sweet baby milk (I hope that’s the rum and not my T-shirt from feeding my youngest).

Sipping this rum is a very intense experience. It’s not as sweet as the nose with some very pungent medicinal notes. A touch of cough mixture. It’s very grassy and very zesty. Huge swathes of lime zest and orange peel. Very heavy on the marmalade with similar bitter notes. Again the taste is slightly sour with notes of Sour Cream and a touch of chive. This is a very bitter/sweet rhum. Maybe a touch metallic as well.

At 50% ABV its fiery and full of ginger and white pepper. Hint of chilli oil, definitely.

On the finish its very clean and slightly dry. Nice spicy notes. This works very well as a palate cleanser.

It would be excellent in a Sorbet. Balance is provided for this rum with a very delicate note of cucumber and some mineral like notes. Fresh and vibrant.

Mixed, Rhum Clement Canne Bleue works wonderfully in a Ti Punch or in a Daiquiri or Mojito. Mixed with fruit juices the spicy and slightly sour/sweet notes work really well to give the drink a really tasty boozy kick.

When you want a “stiff” drink this certainly fits the bill. Big, boozy and full of sweet grassy flavours. Enough complexity to keep things interesting.

This is a really good and slightly different take on a white agricole and well worth seeking out.