At the recent Salon International de l’Agriculture, I purchased a bottle of Darboussier Rhum Vieux from the spirits stand of the French overseas department of Guadeloupe. The rum was labeled “hors d’ages,” and the vendor told me that it was ten years old.
Darboussier is a blend of old rums that have been aged in oak. The color of amber, it emitted a sugary aroma of caramel, banana, and vanilla when I opened the bottle. Initially harsh on the palette, it softened as we swirled it in its glass.
We hope to gather more information about this rum at the Rhum Fest Paris that will be held at the Parc Floral de Paris on April 6 and 7.