Trois Rivieres Blanc Rhum Agricole, 70 cl

Product Information

David T Smith, spirits writer, consultant and co-founder of the Craft Distilling Expo, chaired the third group, which consisted of: Alan Uresti Silva, head of mixology at Annabel’s Mayfair; and Laurence Baker, general manager at Callooh Callay group. After whittling down the Masters to the judges’ favourites, the product that came out on top to claim the Taste Master title was Holyrood Distillery’s Elizabeth Yard – Travellers Distillery – Ungrogged American Oak No 1 Char Octave. Trois Rivières white rums are an absolute reference. They are smooth with a balanced body and an amazing aromatic array with vegetal, mineral and sea-water notes. Rum Liqueurs featured as the penultimate flight of the day, with a deserving Gold medal given to Worthy Park Rum Cream. The expression presented “rum-and-raisin ice cream” sweetness, with a “hint of chocolate and coffee – very smooth and creamy”.

With the bulk of the tasting done and dusted, all that remained was to resample the Master winners to determine the entry most deserving of the 2023 Taste Master accolade. In strict accordance of AOC standards, our amber rums are matured for over 12 months in large-capacity oak tuns. Slowly and very gradually reduced to 40%, these few months spent in wood impart a superb golden, luminous hue to these delicate rums.Our aged rums are matured for a minimum of 3 years and up to 20 years in oak casks of various origins: new French casks, former Cognac casks from France and former Bourbon casks from the US. Most of Maison La Mauny aged rums are made by blending various types to obtain the finest balance and enhanced aromatic richness. Cinzano Asti D.O.C.G. is the most renowned of all the Cinzano sparkling wines. It is produced using white Moscato grapes from the D.O.C.G. area of Asti, in the heart of Piedmont. It possesses a sweet and fruity flavour. In the heart of the lush valley of Rivière Pilote in southern Martinique, Maison La Mauny has been making Agricole Rums elaborated with pure sugarcane juice for over 250 years. Established by Count de Mauny in 1749, the La Mauny Estate is part of Martinique’s historical heritage and renowned for the beauty of its terroir and its warm climate. Upon the initiative of its former Director Mr. Bourdillon, Maison La Mauny contributed to the recognition of the Martinican terroir and rum-making process so that it also acquired the AOC label, a true guarantee of quality and authenticity. In the past and nowadays, Maison La Mauny premium agricole rums have always been renowned for their quality and are awarded the most prestigious medals at International Rums Competitions. The rest of the flight culminated in eight Gold medals and a Silver award. The Gold medallists included Cachaça Dom Tápparo Extra Premium Carvalho Europeu 12 Anos, which had notes of “minty chocolate, vanilla, cherries and soft, woody spice”.

Dry Edition is a dry sparkling wine, produced through a natural fermentation process. It is characterised by a fresh and pleasing perfume and a slightly fruity, balanced and enjoyable flavour. The Cinzano range of sparkling wines includes both sweet and dry versions, each with their own unique characteristics. The Cinzano sparkling wines are ideal for a toast, at the end of a meal, or for any special occasion. Pinot Chardonnay, Prosecco D.O.C., Rosé and Gran Sec are perfect as aperitif and best enjoyed in a flûte, whilst Asti D.O.C.G. and Gran Dolce are best offered at the end of a meal, in a champagne glass, to accompany dessert. The secret recipe, which has remained the same since its creation, is based on some of the natural substances found in the artichokes, including ‘cynarine’. Cynar is an artichoke based bittersweet liqueur known for its versatility and distinctive flavour; its taste is enriched by an infusion of 13 herbs and plants. The name of the drink derives from Cynar scolymus, the botanical name for artichoke, as artichoke leaves lend the distinctive flavour.Across the board, the judges noted how brands really seemed to be embracing the move towards more authentic flavours, and less sugar and caramel influence. A large flight of Spiced rums showed why this is an increasingly popular category, with five Gold medals awarded. Among these were Old J Spiced Rum, which delivered “decent rum character, nice warming gingerbread and cinnamon”. Robust, sweet with primary savours of sugarcane, they reflect the generous climate of Southern Martinique and its unique terroir. Master-winning Depaz Vieux Plantation also received high praise for its aroma of “whisky-like maltiness, with ample woody character”. The taste profile presented “roasted apple and dry woodiness, with some smoke”. Perfect at the end of the meal, it best expresses its characteristics served iced and in slightly frosted glasses. Ideal for any occasion, it brings with it the flavor and aromas of Sardinia spread by the Mistral wind and recalls the carefree atmosphere of dinners in company.

The Sicilian Pine expression caught the judges’ interest for delivering “lots of pine” on the nose, while still allowing the rum to shine through with added “rosemary notes”. Sweet Edition is sweet, light and fizzy sparkling wine that is obtained from the noblest grapes, from selected vineyards within Italy.I was impressed,” said Rodriguez. “Golden rum has a bit of a hard time, especially among the ‘rum geeks’. This flight showed how you can make good quality Gold rums that have ageing and a sense of place; [Plantation Xaymaca Special Dry] was outstanding.” Their taste qualities are particularly smooth: midway between the freshness and bracing effect of white rums and the fullness and complexity of our famous aged rums. The scores reflected an enjoyable round for the judges, who tasted the aged agricole entries. Three Master medals were bestowed upon the flight’s best entries: Depaz XO, Depaz Vieux Plantation, and Depaz VSOP.

Unlike more common industrial rums produced from sugar byproducts, Trois Rivières rhums are made using freshly pressed juice from its estate grown sugar cane, and without the addition of molasses or supplemental flavoring agents. Produced in a single, 22-level copper column still, all of Trois Rivières’ aged rhums spend a minimum of three years in oak casks, and leverage the intensely warm climate to create a finished spirit equivalent to a much older whisky or Cognac without a decade-long wait. Then, Depaz VSOP was enjoyed for hints of “popcorn, wood, roasted banana” on the nose, leading to “a floral, ripe, fat and weighty” palate, with notes of “grapefruit and orange blossom”. Tasting notes for Depaz XO included “a rich Cognac-like nose” leading to a “floral, aromatically fruity palate with orange and grapefruit peel”. “A sipping rum; absolutely beautiful,” enthused Rodriguez. To assess the current standard of rums and cachaças on the market, a group of expert judges gathered at the London City branch of Peruvian restaurant Coya.

The rum sector looks like it is winning its battle to be seen as a top-quality liquid, as this year’s entrants in our annual Rum & Cachaça Masters demonstrated the sheer scale of excellence that is available in all categories. The results of The Rum & Cachaça Masters showed widespread quality Rodriguez noted: “It shows that for the price you’re paying, you can get some good-quality mixing rums. Some you wouldn’t mind sipping, and would work in a Mai Tai or Rum Punch – you can’t go wrong. It’s impressive.” Trois Rivières is bringing five expressions to the States. We received two of them for review, both entry-level offerings. Let’s dig in. Ten Gold medals were also awarded in this round, including medals for Langs Banana Rum, Bullion Coconut, and Koloa Kauai Spice Rum. Eleven Silver medals brought the flight to a close.