Natural colour - Unchillfiltered - Natural Cask Strength

Tropical and continental aging

Tasting notes by Serge Valentin (WhiskyFun.com) 91/100 points

Actually on Marie-Galante, but Marie-Galante is part of Guadeloupe. Bellevue is the largest Distillery in Guadeloupe and is making, it seems, around 1mio litres of rhum agricole per year. We've always loved Bellevue's pretty intense rums.

Colour: amber.

Nose: you smell glue and benzine from a distance of three metres, seriously. Which is a good sign in my book. Gets then more floral (monoi cream, ylang-ylang) and massively cane-y and earthy. Big liquorice too. As we may have said before, it's quite possibly the funkiest of all agricoles, although that would rather be zouk than funk. L'égoïne la kassé… With water: fantastic, softer, exceptionally floral and fruity. Mimosa and fresh pineapples.  

Mouth (neat): huger than 51% vol. olive-y, glue-y, varnishy, with a little cologne (4711), tar, and the expected rotting bananas and pineapples. With water: stays firm and tight even if you bring it down to 25% vol. Some saltiness and more tar and liquorice.

Finish: long, saltier yet. Would you stew black olives in caramel sauce? The glue is back in the aftertaste – glue that you may drink, of course.

Comments: I also believe Bellevue is the most Jamaican of all agricoles. Siyé, siyé…
SGP:562 - 91 points.

Tasting notes by WordsofWhisky.com  9/10

Nose: Opening up on notes of petrol, tar and furniture polish, quickly followed by grilled pineapple, as well as mushy bananas and tinned apricots. There’s touches of almond paste, cinnamon and spice cake too. It’s sweet, but rather funky as well. Complexity is certainly up there.

Taste: Really a continuation of the nose. More overripe bananas, pickled oranges, stewed apples and sweet pineapple, but balanced by tar, diesel and some herbal and minty undertones. Also whiffs of toffee, linseed oil and acetone.

Finish: Long with hints of fennel, espresso, overripe banana and rubber.

Conclusion: Just a remarkable rich, somewhat funky spirit that balances fruity influences with industrial elements. I should really add rums like these to my drinks diet on a more regular basis.