Saint James Rhum Vieux 7yo

Saint James are an agricole producer on the island of Martinique. Their rums seem to mostly be distributed to southern and central continental Europe, so I’ve never heard of them before. This is their youngest age stated rum, a seven year old. It’s bottled at 43%, but I can’t find any information about sugar content. Neither can I find any information about cask type or tropical/continental aging, but we can assume tropical I think, given the notes I got.

This is a series of blind tastings from the “24 Rums” advent calendar. I have not looked at what is in the calendar, so every one of these reviews is 100% no prior knowledge.

1. Dictador 20
2. Whisper Antigua Gold Rum
3. New Grove 8yo
4. Cihuatan 8 year Solera
5. Domaine de Séverin VO
6. Novo Fogo Familia
7. NAUD Ron Panama 15yo
8. Enghaven Blackstrap Rum
9. Zuidam Flying Dutchman Dark Rum No. 3
10. Deadhead Dark Chocolate
11. Rum Magec Ron Añejo XO Oloroso
12. Fijian Rum Liqueur 8yo
13. Matugga Golden Rum
14. Cane Island Trinidad Rum
15. Cane Island Jamaica Rum
16. Saint James Rhum Vieux 7yo
17. Neptuns Rhum
18. Cane Island Cuba Rum
19. Borgoe 8yo
20. Mombacho Ron Reserva 8yo
21. Old New Orleans Amber Rum
22. Tres Hombres 2017 7 year Solera
23. Travellers 5yo Reserve
24. Barceló Imperial Ron Dominicano
25. Barceló Imperial Ron Dominicano (Take 2)

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Distiller: Saint James
ABV: 43%
Age: 7yo
Cask type: Undisclosed
Source: 24 Rums Advent Calendar
Setting: Blind

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Nose: Very restrained treacle, burnt toast, vanilla, musty leather, earth and pine. There’s a lot of interest here, it has almost the character of an old bourbon, but it’s rather veiled.
Palate: Mint candies, cinnamon roll, orange candy. seems to be a little heat here, actually!
Finish: Orange candy takes the reins, then fades back to spearmint and burnt toast.
Overall: That is one interesting rum, it manages to taste very different from almost any rum I have tried. The nose is very interesting and reminiscent of an older bourbon, but it goes a little downhill on the palate with the orange candy seemingly dominating, and then mixing with spearmint note that gives unwanted toothpaste/orange juice associations. It seems that it may be sweetened, but not egregiously.
Rank: 5
Reveal: An agricole?! I would never have guessed. This is new territory in agricoles for me, and I like it.