Saint James VO Agricole Rum
40% ABV (80 proof) | 750mL | 3-year rhum vieux, fresh sugarcane juice | AOC Martinique — Saint James VO is rhum agricole from Martinique: fresh-pressed sugarcane juice distilled in a Creole column still at Sainte-Marie, then aged three years in small oak casks. VO — "Very Old" — is AOC Martinique's designation for rhum vieux aged a minimum of three years. Available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor in San Diego, CA.
Saint James is one of Martinique's historic distilleries, and agricole rum is a different animal from molasses rum: grassy, floral, and alive with fresh cane character. Three years in small oak casks rounds it without taming it — nutty and earthy on the nose (per IWSC tasting), an elegant fresh palate, oak well integrated. The gateway bottle to serious agricole.
Tasting notes
IWSC: nutty, earthy nose; elegant fresh-cane palate; oak well integrated after 3 years in small casks.
Why buy it from Del Mesa Liquor
- AOC Martinique rhum vieux — 3 years in small oak, fresh cane juice, Creole column still
- Agricole character — grassy, floral, and vibrant vs. molasses rum
- Historic Sainte-Marie distillery — the essential agricole starter bottle
- Available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor
How to serve it
Neat or over one cube to taste the cane. Makes a revelatory ti' punch — lime, cane syrup, and agricole is the classic for a reason.
Frequently asked questions
What is agricole rum?
Rum distilled from fresh sugarcane juice rather than molasses — grassier, more floral, and more terroir-driven. Martinique's AOC is the gold standard.
How is it different from regular rum?
Most rum is molasses-based; agricole uses fresh cane juice, giving brighter, grassier, more complex flavor.
What does VO mean?
"Very Old" — under AOC Martinique rules, rhum vieux (old rum) must be aged at least three years in oak.