Neisson Profil 105

Martinique
54.2%
€58 (£50 approx.)

Agricole Rhum: Agricultural Rhum from a traditional column still (Savalle).

ABV Hydrometer Test: 54% ABV @ 20°

* A C

Neisson hails from Martinique and is covered by the Appellation d’origine contrôlée, which ensures that all rhums produced on the island conform to minimum standards. What would us rum drinkers give for such controls to exist (and be enforced) throughout the rest of the rum drinking world?

Neisson is a rare entity in modern rum/rhum production – it is a family owned distillery. Located in La Carbet, Neisson uses sugarcane from 16 different farms to produce fresh sugar cane juice, making it agricultural in style. They have a three-day long fermentation process and use a copper column still (Savalle) for their distillation, to 75%. The rhums are usually aged  in ex-Bourbon barrels made from French Limousin oak.

The Neisson rhum I am reviewing today is the Profil 105, presented at a precise 54.2%.

Unlike their usual offerings, Profil 105 was aged in entirely new 225 litre fine-grained barrels that have been dried for 36 months and made up of equal staves of French and American oaks. This started out as a “white” rhum.

The name is taken from a precise “Heating Profile” called number 105, with characteristics unique to Neisson.

Under Richard Seale’s/Luca Gargano’s proposed rum categorisation, this would most-likely be classed as a “Agricole Rum” – Agricultural Rhum from a traditional column still, in this case, a copper Savalle still.

Bottle/Presentation 2/3

Presented in a rectangular flask-style of bottle and housed in a plastic carrying sleeve, Profil 105 has a natural cork enclosure.

Aside from the 54.2% ABV and A.O.C declaration, there is no further information about the product on the front label. The rear label shows a little information (in French) about the ageing in wood along with some tasting notes.

Glass/Aroma 7/10

The rhum is slightly coppery, almost orange from some angles. There are medium density legs that are quite slow to descend the sides of the glass.

The initial aromas are a little stale like musty grapes. A few moments in the glass lifts the mustiness leaving rich mahogany, furniture polish, zesty citrus, dried orange peel, bitter aniseed and cocoa butter. An underlying spiciness comes to the forefront with multiple nosings.

Taste, Initial-middle 35/40

Smooth, delicate with refreshing citrus notes on entry. A touch of cinnamon on the tongue turning into more spicy pepper and licorice in the mid-palate.

Taste, Middle/Throat 36/40

The spicy mid-palate continues through to the rear in the form of freshly milled black pepper, and is joined briefly by a surprise touch of sweetness, almost like chocolate toffees. The citrusy zing continues, too and that refreshing zest replaces the sweetness before the amazingly long and dry finish. Lots of warmth and soft spices of nutmeg and cinnamon, too as well as some tasty litchi.

Afterburn 7/7

The rum reaches its pinnacle as it approaches the rear of your mouth. The finish feels dry but does not have too many tannins, nor does it make you scrape your cheeks with your tongue. Several minutes after swallowing I can still feel the warmth of this rhum and that dryness is joined by lingering licorice notes.

TOTAL 87/100

Overall

Wow, what an amazing rhum!

The smoothness and flavours bely the fact that it is such a young rhum. At no point is it rough or fiery and those flavours evolve and continue to please long after you have finished drinking.

I would suggest do whatever you can to find and buy a bottle of this – you will not be disappointed with it.

Review No. 102

*
P Denotes the rum contains POT still distillate.
C Denotes the rum contains traditional/Coffey COLUMN still distillate.
B Denotes the rum contains a BLEND of POT and COLUMN still distillate.
M Denotes the rum contains MULTI-COLUMN still distillate or is a MODERN rum.
A Denotes the rum is an AGRICOLE i.e. from Cane Juice.
S Denotes the rum is presented in a SWEETENED style.

Marking Guide:
Bottle/Presentation Out of 3
Glass/Aroma Out of 10
Taste, Initial-middle Out of 40
Taste, Middle/Throat Out of 40
Afterburn Out of 7
TOTAL 100