La Favorite - Creole Garden - Ylang-Ylang - Artisanal Infused - 35%
The La Favorite distillery is one of the last independent family-owned houses in Martinique, faithful to a resolutely artisanal vision of agricole rum. Located on the outskirts of Fort de France, it cultivates cane on volcanic soils ventilated by the trade winds, then distills it in a Creole column still powered by an old steam engine carefully preserved. Over the decades, the house has skillfully combined tradition and creativity by developing a range of white, aged, and infused rums that all share the same demand for precision. The Creole Garden collection was born from the desire to make agricole rum converse with the scents of the Caribbean garden, highlighting the fruits, flowers, and spices of the terroir. Each recipe is crafted in small batches, with particular care given to the quality of raw materials and maceration time. Creole Garden Ylang Ylang embodies the most floral and enchanting facet of this universe, conceived as a fragrant stroll through a tropical garden.
La Favorite Creole Garden Ylang Ylang is an artisanal infused rum made from the house’s white agricole rum, derived from pure freshly pressed cane juice. On this clear and vegetal base, rigorously selected ylang-ylang flowers are infused, known for their sweet and sunny fragrance that evokes the islands and the softness of late afternoon. The maceration is slow and carefully monitored to capture the aromatic intensity of the flower without ever tipping into excess or heaviness. A touch of cane sugar rounds out the structure and supports the floral register, while maintaining a sufficiently dry profile to remain digestible and gastronomic. The final blend is left to rest so the aromas can meld and gain complexity before bottling at 35 percent, which guarantees a fine balance between indulgence and freshness. The result is an infused rum where La Favorite’s agricultural signature intimately marries the sensual character of ylang-ylang, in a style both refined and accessible.
On tasting, Creole Garden Ylang Ylang presents itself in a clear and luminous robe, slightly golden, already announcing its exotic sweetness. The nose is immediately expressive, dominated by white flowers, ylang-ylang, jasmine, and a hint of vanilla, supported by a base of fresh cane and brown sugar. On the palate, the attack is soft and caressing, with a creamy yet fluid texture where the flower fully blossoms, reminiscent of scented oils and Creole gardens at dusk. The agricole rum provides a lively and slightly spicy framework that balances the sweetness, while the cane sugar adds volume without ever weighing down the palate. The finish is long, delicate, marked by a persistent return of white flowers, light honey, and sweet cane, with a controlled warmth that invites another glass. Served chilled or on ice, this infused rum pairs wonderfully with an exotic dessert, a tropical fruit salad, a pineapple coconut tart, or a simple slice of vanilla cake, and also lends itself very well to floral cocktails based on lemon juice, tonic, or prosecco.
