LA FAVORITE - Vintage 2018 - 6 years - Bottled March 2025 - 46%
La Favorite distillery, one of the last family-owned and independent distilleries in Martinique, has been preserving a unique artisanal tradition around agricole rum since 1905. Located in the heart of Fort de France, it still operates thanks to a classified steam engine, a symbol of a preserved know-how passed down from generation to generation. La Favorite stands out through a parcel-based approach, meticulous work on the cane, and distillation in a Creole column still producing rums of great purity. The vintages hold a central place: each year is isolated, aged, and bottled separately, with a focus on transparency and expression of the terroir. The 2018 Vintage, bottled in March 2025, fully embodies this tradition of rare and sought-after cuvées, revealing the richness of a rum patiently aged six years under tropical climate.
La Favorite Vintage 2018 46% is made from pure freshly pressed cane juice, quickly fermented to preserve the aromatic energy of the vegetal. Distilled in a traditional Creole column still, the distillate is then aged in carefully selected oak barrels chosen for their ability to bring structure, softness, and complexity without masking the agricole signature. Over six years, under the influence of the hot and humid Martinican climate, the rum gains volume, depth, and complexity, concentrating the aromas while rounding out. The March 2025 bottling reflects a precise moment of maturity when the cellar master judges the rum has reached its ideal balance. Bottled at 46%, this cuvée preserves the aromatic density of aging while offering a silky and perfectly controlled texture. Rare, precise, expressive, it represents one of the most authentic interpretations of vintage work according to La Favorite.
On the palate, La Favorite Vintage 2018 presents a golden amber robe with coppery reflections. The nose opens with notes of dried fruits, ripe plum, dried flowers, and honey, enriched by fine woody nuances, natural vanilla, and blond tobacco. On the palate, the attack is broad, warm, and harmonious, supported by a velvety texture where candied fruits, orange peel, blond caramel, and soft spices mingle. The structure remains lively, highlighted by a discreet but essential agricultural freshness that balances the richness of the wood. The finish is long, elegant, marked by notes of light cocoa, roasted dried fruits, toasted oak, and a saline hint that extends the tasting. Served neat, slightly aerated in the glass, this rum pairs wonderfully with a dark chocolate dessert, a tropical fruit tart, spiced roasted pineapple, or a fine cigar for contemplative spirit enthusiasts.
