Best New Rhum Agricole: Rhum HSE 2005 Sherry Finish Pedro Ximenez
This is the most creative rum distillery in Martinique, and one might argue in all of the Caribbean. HSE is the rum that really pioneered the extra “finishing” process of rhums agricoles, from finishing agricoles in malt whisky barrels to, more recently Spanish sherry. The latest edition of the Sherry Finish saw an aged agricole spending eight months in Pedro Ximenez sherry barrels, and the result was a peppery but sweet rum with HSE’s signature power. A tremendous product and one that makes us excited to see what they come up with next.