Objective Notes
Smooth (on the RnD scale of Harsh-Smooth-Very Smooth-Extremely Smooth)

Beautiful, medium-amber in color from many years of aging in oak, this rhum is distinctive for its mellow aroma and distinct flavors. Slightly sweet aromas of with fruit, nut, alcohol and mild vanilla, the sniffs are quite inviting. Initial taste is immediate: light viscosity and moderately hot. In the mouth, tastes of dried fruit (apricot), leather, tarry black licorice and caramelized brown sugar are noteworthy. The finish is dry, thin and moderately long, reminiscent of cracked walnut shells.

Anecdotal Notes
Saint James calls their rhum “single cane” because it is distilled from the juice of pure sugar cane. Hors D’Age is the oldest of a large number of rhums produced by the Saint James distillery that is commonly available in the USA. As is the common practice in the French West Indies, Saint James is an agricole rhum, meaning distilled from sugar cane juice, as opposed to being distilled from molasses.

Taster’s Opinion
Dave - Agricole rhums should probably be considered a different drink from Industrielle rums (made from molasses), because the two types generally exhibit distinctly different flavors. Often, people like only one style or the other. Nothing wrong with that; RnD believe it's all a matter of taste anyway. If you prefer a sweeter style typical of molasses-based rums, this one isn’t for you. But if you are looking for a dry, elegant sipping rum made in the agricole style, mellowed in oak to a mature age, then Saint James Hors D’Age is worth a try. Only a few agricole rhums stand out for RnD, but this is one that we can recommend.

Taster's Rating (10 is best):  Dave - 8 flasks

Most recently reviewed by: Dave in June, 2007 at RnD's South tasting room in USA.

*750ml unless otherwise stated.