La Favorite Coeur de Canne Blanc 50

Surprisingly pungent on the nose, almost overpowering the cut grass notes expected in the style. Reminiscent of some Jamaicans, but with the overripe fruit swapped out for grassy herbaciousness. On the palate, slightly sweet and very vegetal, again with some herbacious flavors following. Unctuous and savory. Finish is long and herbal, with notes of thyme and mint hanging around the longest. Really delicious on its own, and absolutely fabulous as a ti' punch or as the agricole component of a traditional mai tai.

Sampled at the King Kahuna Lounge on 12-9-23. Pours clear. Strong, and I mean crazy strong, grass aroma and flavor. Usually, I easily get the yeasty doughy notes from agricole and detect a bit of grass, but this one is like you’re chewing a cud of freshly mown yard grass. Amazing!

Like most Rhum Agricole Blanc on Martinique this Rhum is made from fresh pressed sugar cane juice, which is fermented and distilled on a column still on Martinique, and then stored in a steel tank and bottled at 50% ABV. Unlike most other Rhum Agricole these days, Distilerie La Favorite is one of the last two family owned distilleries in Martinique (the other being Neisson). This is their primary Agricole Blanc offering. So what does it offer?

Taking a whiff from the Glencairn I get immediately fresh cut Hay. I also get heavy Brine notes akin to seawater. Additionally, I get just the slightest hint of mineralogy like the smell of a new steel tank, followed by faint rubber cement glue. All in all the nose is pretty familiar for a Rhum Agricole Blanc. It is not as expressive as Neisson Blanc or the Clairins.

Taking a sip, at first I get heavy Chalk but this quickly dissipates and is replaced by the taste of both fresh cut Grass stems and simultaneously Dried Hay accompanied by notes of faint Rubber Cement Glue and Powdered Sugar. This is significantly more complex in the mouth than as imagined on the nose.

On the finish I get Cracked Black Peppercorns and fresh cut Grass stems. Short and simple. Long after I put the glass down I taste raw Snap Peas. Fascinating.

This is actually quite pleasant just to sit and sip neat which is really not something I had imagined I would be writing here. In fact, and this is strange to say, but this is tastier and more complex to sip straight than it is in a Tí Punch that I got it for.

Don’t get me wrong, it makes a decent enough Tí Punch. It’s not quite as expressive in the Tí Punch as I had hoped it would be, but it is not bad at all. Yet, somehow, it is actually more enjoyable just to drink straight up or over a tiny ice cube. It has an unexpected complexity on the palate and finish, that is unexpected from the nose and that is muted entirely in the Tí Punch.

Short Description: a subtly complex sipper masquerading under the disguise of a basic Tí Punch bar staple.

ABV 50%

Country of Origin: Martinique

Distillery: La Favorite

Nose: Fresh Cut Hay, Brine, New Steel Tank, slight Rubber Cement Glue

Palate: Chalk, faint Rubber Cement Glue, fresh Grass Stem, Dried Hay, faint Powdered Sugar

Finish: Cracked Black Peppercorns, fresh Grass, raw Snap Peas

There is a nice vesoute aroma (clean olive brine with fruity depth), but there is an excess of ethyl acetate (nail-polish remover) that turns everything harsh. You can really taste it on the palate - bitter and solvent-like.

Un super blanc. Sans doute moins exceptionnel que leur autres cuvées. Mais excellent quand même.

Fairly clean and crisp.
Smell is sort of mild.
Not a specific flavor jumping out

Rhum très sucré. Dans un ti-punch limite la sucrosité présente suffit à elle même. Bon rhum d'entré à un tarif bas. 6,5.

Pretty good for Ti Punch, cachaca replacement, and any other cocktail.

Premier rhum La Favorite que je goute et vraiment une belle découverte. Rhum très equilibré, l'alcool est totalement intégré et n'agresse en rien, ce qui semble être une signature de la marque. Super!

Not to expect a classic rum taste or sweetness. Is different. An interesting nose of green grass and a green taste, too. Some citrus, some vanilla. No extra sugar.