Earth to Ed Dept: Barbancourt IS a rhum agricole

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Capn Jimbo
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Earth to Ed Dept: Barbancourt IS a rhum agricole

Post by Capn Jimbo »

When will it end?


Apparently never. The facts are simple:

1. The term "Rhum Agricole" means nothing more or less than "cane juice rum", but in French.

2. Use of the term goes back at least 200 years, and was first used by the French derogatorily in referring to Haitian "clarin", made from cane juice. Barbancourt is the world's oldest continous producer of rhum agricole, and still produces some of the finest examples of cane juice rums.

3. The "AOC Rhum Agricole Martinique" labeling scheme was not created until the mid 1990's, and refers only to cane juice rums made in Martinique under their regulations.

4. The AOC is a subset of "rhum agricole" and in no way defines it. Thus "rhum agricoles" are made in at least nine countries, not least Haiti and the magnificent Barbancourt agricoles.

But Eddie refuses to "get" it. In a recent post he criticized Barbancourt White's use in a "ti punch", saying "...Barbancourt White... for a ti punch, I prefer rhum agricole, but I'm spoiled...", His position seems to be that if it isn't distilled in Martinique or one of his preferred islands, it's not an agricole.

It's so sad. A vendetta against Barbancourt? You decide...
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