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 color. The nose has bubbling sugar, vanilla bean, cookie dough, orange zest and the musty interior of a long-forgotten cedar chest. Syrupy mouthfeel. The palate is layered with vanilla and salted caramel up front, then a blast of umami with toasted sesame oil and truffles, and ending with something like rubber cement glue poured over a pile of rotting collard greens. The finish is long - too damn long. The gluey rotting vegetable note really stays with you, along with fainter notes of truffles and over-ripe bananas. Every swallow induces a mild gag reflex. I'll give this points for a lovely nose and for being possibly the most complex and challenging libation I've ever tried. Unfortunately, it is too challenging for me. I was naive to think that since I enjoy the funk of Jamaican rums I could dive straight into the deep end of agricole. Indeed, I was mistaken. My palate needs to mature significantly before I can potentially find this even remotely enjoyable.

There is the typical oak but not overoaked, specially in the finish is the typical agricole sugercane flavor that lingers for a looong time. Not very sweet, rather dry. A few drops of water releases smoke, they probably use heavily charred barrels.