1998 The Colours of Rum Bellevue 23 Year Old Edition No. 3 Cask Strength Guadeloupe Rum (700ml)

Matured for six years in the tropics, the remainder in Europe, this column distilled rum comes from the Bellevue distillery, Guadeloupe’s largest exporter, producing in excess of 900,000 litres a year. Despite being bottled with a similar ABV, this is all-round more relaxed and integrated than Edition No.2 from the same distillery with bittersweet molasses cake, cinnamon and dried mango flavours - also more grassy, tangy and fresh at the finish. High alcohol remains evident, as do some minor green notes amid the golden syrup and plantain aftertaste, but they do little to detract from what is a wonderfully expressive French Caribbean style. 53.9% Alc./Vol. Non chill filtered. 249 bottles. Tasted from a 20ml sample.

Notes from the bottlers... Apple, cake, dark oranges, oil, herbs.