Best New Rhum Agricole: Rhum Depaz Cuvee Victor Depaz, Martinique Rhum Depaz, set on a centuries-old plantation at the foot of Martinique’s Mont Pelee, has been a fixture in the Rum Awards for years, thanks largely to an almost unbeatable output of very old rums, from its Cuvee Prestige to its Grand Saint Pierre expression. But one of its newest entries is particularly interesting. It’s called Cuvee Victor Depaz, named for the founder of the estate. It’s a blend of rums aged for three and four years in American oak — so something that’s effectively a mix of VO and VSOP rums. The result? Something surprisingly special, a bit smoother around the edges than most of Depaz’s stuff (at 40 degrees), with notes of vanilla and candied fruit and grilled pineapple, with another level of drinkability for the brand. The best part? It’s one of the great values in the rum world, priced at around $20.
