Rhum Depaz Vieux Plantation
45% ABV (90 proof) | 700mL | Rhum Vieux Agricole, minimum 3 years in oak | AOC Martinique — Rhum Depaz "Vieux — Plantation" is the entry aged expression in Depaz's core range: a rhum vieux agricole from Distillerie Depaz at La Montagne, Saint-Pierre, Martinique, at the foot of Mount Pelée. Made from fresh sugarcane juice — not molasses — grown on the estate ("blue cane") and estate-distilled in a traditional column still, then aged a minimum of three years in oak barrels under AOC Martinique rules.
The Depaz estate traces its roots to the 1600s; the distillery was destroyed by the 1902 Mount Pelée eruption and rebuilt by Victor Depaz, the family's sole survivor, in 1917. It remains one of Martinique's historic estate distilleries, now part of La Martiniquaise. "Plantation" is the name of this expression in the Depaz range — it is Depaz's signature aged rhum in its unmistakable rounded stubby bottle with the chunky cork stopper, distinct from the XO and Grande Réserve tiers. Available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor in San Diego, CA.
Tasting notes
No official brand tasting notes were captured for this expression; retailer-corroborated notes (not the brand's): deep golden/amber color; vanilla, tobacco, and fresh coffee on the nose; palate of dry oak, prunes, vanilla, and cinnamon with a kick of black pepper; French retailers add coconut, chocolate, and candied fruit; reviewers note cane juice, caramel, and a saline, banana finish.
Why buy it from Del Mesa Liquor
- AOC Martinique rhum agricole — fresh cane juice, estate-distilled, aged a minimum of 3 years
- 45% ABV — the classic Depaz Vieux Plantation bottling strength
- From the historic Depaz estate at the foot of Mount Pelée, Saint-Pierre, Martinique
- Available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor
How to serve it
Neat to appreciate the agricole character, or in a Ti' Punch — rhum agricole's natural habitat — with a lime coin and cane syrup.
Frequently asked questions
What is rhum agricole?
Rhum agricole is distilled from fresh-pressed sugarcane juice rather than molasses. In Martinique it follows AOC rules — specific cane, column-still distillation, and oak aging minimums.
Is this the same as Depaz XO?
No — Vieux Plantation is the entry aged (minimum 3-year) expression in the Depaz range; the XO and Grande Réserve are older, pricier tiers in similar-looking bottles.
What proof and size?
90 proof (45% ABV) in a 700mL bottle — the standard EU format for this expression.