Rhum Agricole of the Year: Rhum Depaz XO Grand Saint-Pierre

Another incredibly difficult choice. The rums of the French Caribbean are, arguably, the most “authentic” in the Caribbean — they have a real terroir, a sense that one can taste the region where they were made, thanks to a local, vertically integrated process from cane to cap. But the best offering from the French Caribbean was this: Rhum Depaz XO Grand Saint-Pierre. This agricole from the foothills of Martinique’s Mont Pelee volcano is magnificent: ultra-smooth, ultra-balanced and spicy, with notes of candied fruit, with a transcendent finish. This is the second year in a row that Depaz has taken the top agricole crown, and the reason is clear: they’re producing simply exquisite rums.

Runners up: Rhum HSE XO, Rhum Damoiseau 8 Ans, Rhum Dillon XO.