Many people associate white rum with a cheap buzz. But one sip of Rhum Clément Première Canne, a $27.99 stunner from Martinique, demonstrates conclusively why experts consider rum one of the world’s superlative spirits. Exotic and complex, silky textured and rich, Première Canne is to Bacardi Light as Valrhona is to Hershey’s. Its nuanced layers of subtle fruit flavors slowly reveal an essence of earthy spice redolent of the tropics — all in a spirit so whisper-light as to feel ethereal on the palate.

Most rum is made from molasses, a byproduct of refining white sugar. Rhum Agricole is made from fresh-squeezed sugarcane juice and a process modeled on the finest French brandies. Première Canne makes a delightful change of pace for fans of premium vodka or silver tequila, whether chilled alone or in any white spirit cocktail recipe. Especially poignant is the classic daiquiri — shaken, not frozen.

This entry was posted on Thursday, April 24th, 2008 at 6:00 am and is filed under What to Drink, Wine & Spirits. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

Posted by Marnie Old on 4/24/08 in What to Drink, Wine & Spirits