Rhum Depaz VSOP
45% ABV (90 proof) | 700mL | 7 years old | Rhum vieux agricole, AOC Martinique | Ex-bourbon + ex-Cognac oak — Depaz VSOP is a "très vieux" rhum agricole from the Depaz distillery at the foot of Mount Pelée on Martinique: distilled from fresh sugarcane juice (not molasses), then aged a minimum of seven years in small oak barrels previously used for bourbon and Cognac. Twice a gold medalist at the Concours Général Agricole de Paris (2009, 2012). Available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor in San Diego, CA.
Rhum agricole lives or dies by the cane, and Depaz's volcanic-slope estate delivers: cut-grass cane freshness, prunes, and vanilla on the nose; a palate of tobacco, licorice, soft brown sugar, and cocoa; a long, relatively dry finish with vanilla woodiness and a flicker of orange. Among aged Caribbean rums, an AOC Martinique rhum agricole at 90 proof is a genuinely different experience from molasses-based rum — herbaceous, structured, and elegant.
Tasting notes
Nose: cut grass, prunes, vanilla, fresh cane. Palate: tobacco, licorice, brown sugar, creamy chocolate, candied fruit. Finish: long, spicy, cocoa, caramel. (Consensus of retailer/whisky press notes; agricole tradition.)
Why buy it from Del Mesa Liquor
- 45% ABV (90 proof) — aged 7 years, ex-bourbon and ex-Cognac oak
- True rhum agricole: distilled from fresh sugarcane juice, AOC Martinique
- From one of Martinique's oldest distilleries, at the foot of Mount Pelée
- Gold medal, Concours Général Agricole de Paris 2009 and 2012
- Available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor
How to serve it
Neat in a tasting glass — it's made for sipping. Also superb in a Ti' Punch with lime and cane syrup.
Frequently asked questions
What is rhum agricole?
Rum distilled from fresh sugarcane juice rather than molasses — grassier, more herbaceous, and the official style of Martinique's AOC.
How old is Depaz VSOP?
A minimum of seven years in oak, in the "très vieux" category.
What proof is it?
45% ABV (90 proof).
Is it good for cocktails?
Yes — a Ti' Punch is the classic, but it's rich enough to sip neat.