Rhum JM Multivintage is a rum composed of distillates from 3 vintages – 2002, 2007 and 2009. As such, there is nothing unusual about mixing vintages – on the other hand, it is rare that they are given on the label. These vintages are “married” in large casks where they lie for a while so that the final blend is balanced and integrated. What they all have in common is that they are made from fresh sugarcane juice and originally aged in bourbon barrels.
Colour: Deep golden.
Aroma: A sensation of vanilla, orange, prunes and tobacco.
Tasting notes: Relatively dry on the palate with a light bite of tannin, notes of roasted nuts, dried fruit and a hint of menthol.
Serving suggestions: Drink neat.
The plantation where Rhum JM is produced today was originally just a sugar refinery, but when Jean-Marie Martin bought the property in 1845, he switched his focus from sugar to rum. Jean-Marie had quickly spotted that the unique conditions of the fields at the foot of Mont Pelée created sugarcane of an unrivaled quality that would make an excellent rhum agricole. And to this day, 100% of the distillery’s sugar cane is still grown on the steep slopes of the mighty volcano. JM highlights 4 things that are crucial to the terroir: the lush, volcanic soil, the tropical humidity from the low cloud cover, the ventilation from the sea breeze that blows into the volcano and cools the fields, and the good drainage in the steep hillside fields. To preserve all the aromas of the sugarcane, they are pressed within 1 hour of harvesting!
Next to the distillery and the fields are the cellars, where part of the rum is stored for longer periods. At JM, bourbon casks made of American oak are mainly used, but now and then new, unused casks, armagnac casks, cognac casks and calvados casks are also seen. When the casks are burned at JM, it is done by igniting high-strength rum in the cask – an impressive sight!
