Dillon VSOP

Dillon

Origin

Martinique

Type

Sugar Cane Juice Rum

Barrel

Bourbon

Age

8 years

Alcohol

43°

Value

40 points

About the product

VSOP stands for Very Superior Old Pale. It is a term originally from the world of cognac. For rhum, it means it has matured for at least four years in oak barrels. Sometimes the terms Vieille Réserve, Réserve Spéciale or Cuvée Spéciale are also used to denote such aged rums. The Rhum VSOP trés Vieux Dillon has also spent a minimum of four years in oak barrels.

This rhum is amber in the glass and opens quite subtly on the nose. Chocolate is immediately in the foreground, but dried and toasted fruits provide a pleasant warmth. Cinnamon , liquorice and vanilla join the aroma palette. On the palate, the velvety roundness immediately stands out. The aromas return: chocolate, fruit, vanilla and also a pleasant surprise with toasted nuts. The finish is particularly long and warm.

About the brand

Dillon has been anchored in Martinique's terroir since 1779. In that year, Arthur Dillon's regiment arrived on the island. Dillon was a young captain of Irish origin who had also played a role in the American War of Independence. On Martinique, he married the Comtesse de la Touche and together they built a plantation. In the mid-19th century, they also started producing rum here. In 1928, the distillery had to close, but production was restarted in 1954. Since then, production has been growing and Dillon is known for quality Rhum Agricole, made from ten different varieties of sugar cane.

Dillon's sugar cane is quickly pressed, the juice filtered and lightly diluted, before being fermented for 24 to 48 hours. The result is a sugar wine with an alcohol content of around 4 to 6%. The stills are fired with the bagasse, the residual product of the sugar cane after it is pressed. The alcohol produced comes out of the boiler at around 65% and is then given about five weeks to rest and is reduced to 50% ABV, or 55% for the white rums.

Part of the production is then aged in oak barrels.

All Dillon rums are labelled ‘Rhum Agricole A.O.C. Martinique’, a sign of quality since 1996.