Rhum Barbancourt is distilled and produced by Societe du Rhum Barbancourt, in Port Au Prince on the Isle of Haiti. The word “rhum” is the French spelling for our English word “rum”. However, the differences between Rhum and Rum are often much deeper than just a twist in spelling. This is because the traditions of making rhum in the French West Indies differs from the traditions of rum production in the rest of the Caribbean. The major difference in the production of Agricole Rum is that it is distilled from fermented sugar cane juice rather than fermented molasses.
As far as Rhum goes, Rhum Barbancourt kind of breaks the mold and goes its own direction, but it is a direction which pleased the Judges and I so much that it landed at number 25 on the countdown list of the 30 Best Rums in the World:
– Rhum Barbancourt 15 Year Old Estate Reserve
“… The initial scents in the breezes are of butterscotch and sandalwood oak. As the glass breathes the aroma becomes more complex with some light baking spices (vanilla, cinnamon and cloves) and both citrus (orange peel) and dry fruit (dates, apricot and raisin) evolving… “
This Rhum displays a very nice balance of flavour with a more mellow style of oak which allows the flavour nuances within to shine.