Clement XO Rhum Vieux

Clement XO Rhum Vieux is an 84 proof (42% ABV), 750mL aged rhum agricole from Martinique — distilled from fresh sugarcane juice (not molasses) and aged a minimum of six years in ex-bourbon barrels at Habitation Clément. It carries the AOC Martinique designation, the French appellation that governs every step from cane to bottle: no added sugar, no added coloring, just cane, oak, and time. It is available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA.

• ABV: 42% (84 proof)
• Size: 750mL
• Style: rhum agricole vieux (cane-juice rum, aged)
• Aging: minimum 6 years in ex-bourbon barrels
• Production: AOC Martinique — fresh cane juice, Creole column still, Habitation Clément
• Additives: none — no added sugar or coloring

Six Years of Martinique in a Glass

Rhum agricole is rum's other tradition: instead of molasses, the French islands ferment and distill fresh-pressed cane juice, and Martinique's AOC holds producers to some of the strictest standards in the spirits world — fermentation capped at 120 hours, distillation in column stills, aging entirely on the island. Clément has been distilling since 1887, and its XO is the house's benchmark aged expression: the only core Clément rhum matured entirely in ex-bourbon barrels, whose light char adds a whisper of smoke and caramel to the fruity, vegetal agricole character. The Ultimate Spirits Challenge gave it 94 points — brown sugar, dried dates, and baking spice on the nose; oak, gingerbread, and mocha on the palate. Browse more aged rum and explore the Rhum Clement collection at Del Mesa Liquor.

Tasting Notes

Nose: Brown sugar, dried dates and prunes, baking spice (importer/press-sourced).

Palate: Oak, gingerbread, and mocha over a fruity, vegetal agricole core.

Finish: Gently sweet and warming, with a whisper of smoke from the barrel char.

How to Enjoy

Neat or over one big cube — the classic vieux serve. At 84 proof it also lifts a Ti' Punch or an agricole-based Old Fashioned.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does "rhum vieux" mean?
"Aged rum" — under Martinique's AOC, "vieux" means at least 3 years in oak, and "XO" raises the minimum to 6 years.

What proof is Clement XO Rhum Vieux?
84 proof (42% ABV).

Is agricole rum different from regular rum?
Yes — agricole rhum is distilled from fresh sugarcane juice rather than molasses, giving it a brighter, grassier, more floral character.

Is there added sugar?
No — AOC Martinique prohibits added sugar and coloring in rhum agricole.

Martinique's aged-rhum benchmark — order Clement XO Rhum Vieux online from Del Mesa Liquor in San Diego, CA.