Nine Leaves 2018 Armagnac Casks Small Batch (70cl, 59%)

A small-batch aged rum from Nine Leaves, distilled in 2018 from Kokuto, Japanese dark whole cane sugar, and matured for seven years in three former Armagnac casks of 300 litres each before the rums were vatted. The edition comprises 923 bottles, bottled at 59% without chill filtration or colour, and is presented in gift packaging. Despite its strength, the rum shows a fine interplay of fruit, spice, plant freshness and floral impressions. The nose is fine and airy, with juicy pineapple, clove and lemon, followed by sugar cane blossom, raw sugar and vanilla, plus eucalyptus and a fine smoky note. The palate is elegant and slender, with lemon and pear, sugar cane field, hay and reed, then raw sugar syrup. The finish is fine and lingering, returning to fresh pineapple, with acacia honey, menthol, lemon balm and a herbal infusion impression.