Background
After having worked most of my way through a liter bottle of the stuff, I’d say it’s high time for a review of Bielle blanc. Located on the island of Marie-Galante, Guadeloupe, Distillerie Bielle has been producing cane juice rhum for over a century. Though the estate, which originally grew coffee, has been around since 1769, it has been producing its rhum since 1910, according to their website.
This rhum is a part of Bielle’s core lineup; though it’s like liquid gold to those of us in the United States, it’s both easy to find and affordable in Europe. It was column distilled from cane juice and bottled at 59%.
Tasting
The nose opens with “hiking in the woods” aromas like fresh rain, wet leaves, and mulch. Familiar agricole notes join in like grapefruit, fennel, flowers, sea breeze, and Play-Doh. There’s also some weird candy stuff like lemon cough drops and those peppermint puffs they give you at restaurants.
On the palate, I get ripe pears and raw root vegetables like radish, beets, and sweet potato. Play-Doh and fennel return, joined by a just a little bit of olive, Sichuan peppercorn, and marshmallow. It falls on the dirtier end of the agricole spectrum, though I wouldn’t describe this as being overtly funky.
Verdict
Very, very good. Bielle’s lack of availability in the United States has definitely contributed to some hype among American rum nerds like myself, but it really does live up to the high expectations. That a distillery has a core product this good and this affordable is astonishing.
If you’re reading this and somehow have the power to import Bielle to the United States, hear my plea; my bottle’s almost out. (8/10)