Batiste Ecoiste Rhum Agricole. I bought this bottle originally when I was seeking to try out my first agricole rum, and when I saw this one for under $20 at Trader Joe’s, I couldn’t resist! Unfortunately, I wasn’t a huge fan of the flavors in this one… That said, taste is super subjective, so to each their own, but here are my 2 cents.

Agricole rhums are often referred to as “French-style rums” and are made from fresh sugarcane juice (as opposed to molasses) and thus has a particular grassy vegetal flavor. This one does have a bit of that, but I find the flavor a bit ‘oily’ (almost plastic-y) tasting for my liking and not clean, crisp, or refreshing.

Taste aside, I will commend them on their dedication to being environmentally aware. The production of this rhum is powered by energy from a solar farm, uses non-GMO sugar canes that are harvested without field burning (a process that simplifies harvesting but the smoke generated can contribute to climate impact), and production waste is then used as fertilizer back to the land. If only the end product tasted better….

If you’re looking for your first agricole rhum, I’d recommend picking up a bottle of Neisson, La Favorite, or Rhum JM instead.