Marie-Galante.
It’s one of those far-flung, exotic islands that few tourists have reached, outside of those from mainland France, of course.
And as we’ve noted before, this pancake-shaped island in the Guadeloupe archipelago has a special claim to fame: there are more rum distilleries here per capita than anywhere else on earth.
Indeed, there are three terrific distilleries here on an island of just under 12,000 people.
One of them is Rhum Bielle, which has been churning out sensational expressions at its Grand-Bourg distillery for almost a century and a half.
Like one of its latest expressions, the Bielle 2009 vintage.
This rum, bottled at 84 proof, is unique in that it’s aged in bourbon casks and then finished in cognac barrels.
It’s got a light yellow-amber color, with an aroma of bourbon.
The flavor is sensational, with notes of anise, apricot, fennel, pineapple and mango.
The finish is surprisingly smooth, as this rum has a lightness that’s a bit unusual for the often-hearty rums of Marie Galante.
Simply put, this is a marvelous rum.