RHUM JM - Very Old Agricultural Rum - Signature Cuvée - Vintage 1998 - 25 years - No. 133/268 - 40.6%
This Very Old Agricultural Rum JM Signature Cuvée 1998, bottled after 25 years of aging and numbered No. 133 out of only 268 bottles, stands as both a collector's item and a fine tasting spirit. Made from pure cane juice, distilled at the foot of Mount Pelée, it carries in its deep amber mahogany-reflected color all the concentration of its long years of barrel rest. The nose opens with a complex bouquet of candied fruits, orange peels, dried mango, and plum, quickly joined by notes of dark honey, vanilla, cocoa, and waxed wood. In the background appear hints of blond tobacco, roasted nuts, and a touch of coffee, all testifying to an elegant rancio. The whole gives an impression of refined aromatic softness, never falling into heaviness. From the first breaths, one perceives the signature of a very old agricultural rum patiently shaped by time.
On the palate, the Signature Cuvée 1998 unfolds with great smoothness of texture, supported by a perfectly integrated 40.6% ABV that favors finesse over demonstrative power. The attack is supple, caressing, marked by candied fruits, ripe cane, and a touch of blond caramel that elegantly coats the palate. The mid-palate reveals notes of vanilla, toasted coconut, mild spices, and precious wood, in a harmony where each nuance seems patiently blended. A fine spicy thread, between cinnamon, nutmeg, and white pepper, structures the whole and brings relief. The sensation of warmth remains contained, leaving mainly room for length and aromatic precision. The finish, long and enveloping, extends the pleasure with notes of dried fruits, cocoa, blond tobacco, and orange zest.
This 1998 vintage, aged for a quarter of a century before bottling and limited to only 268 copies, appeals as much to discerning enthusiasts as to collectors seeking rare bottles bearing a true story. Served slightly chilled then allowed to open in the glass, it reveals new aromatic layers over minutes, between beeswax, fine spices, candied exotic fruits, and noble woodiness. It will wonderfully accompany a moment of meditation at the end of a meal, a high-cocoa dark chocolate, a delicate cigar, or a pastry with dried fruits and citrus. Its complexity and softness make it a spirit to savor slowly, sip after sip, to appreciate the entire journey from fresh cane to this perfectly accomplished very old agricultural rum. Each glass reminds that this is a moment frozen in time, that of a unique vintage raised with patience and rigor.
Only 1 bottle available - Vintage 1998
