Clément : 10 Year Old

Characteristics and Tasting Tips for the 10 Years Old Clément

Color
An amber hue with mahogany and coppery highlights, reflecting its long tropical aging. The liquid displays a beautiful viscosity in the glass, illustrating the density acquired over the years.

Nose
Remarkably intense, the bouquet first reveals woody notes, almond, dried fruits such as raisins and prunes, warm spices like pepper and cinnamon, as well as delicate touches of vanilla. With aeration, aromas of precious wood (cedar, sandalwood), roasted cocoa, leather, fig, caramel, and tobacco enrich this complex olfactory palette.

Palate
The attack is rich, dense, and remarkably smooth, offering a silky, enveloping texture. The alcohol is perfectly integrated. The palate confirms the aromas perceived on the nose, with refined wood notes, pronounced almond, vanilla sweetness, caramel, and spices. The finish is exceptionally persistent, dry, and remarkably well-balanced.

This spirit is best enjoyed as a digestif, served at room temperature (around 20°C) in a snifter-style glass to concentrate its vapors and gradually release its volatile compounds. It is recommended to savor it neat, without adding water or ice. As for pairings, it harmonizes perfectly with chocolate desserts, such as tiramisu, thanks to its notes of cocoa and vanilla. It is also an excellent choice to accompany a fine cigar, its woody and spicy aromas resonating beautifully with the flavors of aged tobacco leaves.

While some professionals may incorporate it into refined preparations such as an Old Fashioned, this exceptional product is above all designed for pure, contemplative tasting. The distillery intends it primarily to be savored unadorned, so as to preserve its full aromatic complexity.

This spirit has an alcohol content of 42% ABV. It has been awarded multiple times, notably receiving a Grand Gold Medal in 2010 and a Gold Medal in 2011 at the Concours Mondial de Bruxelles, as well as a Bronze Medal at the Concours Général Agricole de Paris in 2024.

An Exceptional Aged Agricultural Rum from the Martinique AOC

The story of Clément begins in 1887 when Homère Clément acquired the Habitation de l'Acajou in Le François. Faced with the sugar crisis, he innovated by distilling pure cane juice directly, laying the foundations of agricole rum. In 1917, the distillery was officially founded. His son, Charles Clément, subsequently modernized the production facilities and built the brand's international reputation. Since 1986, the estate has been owned by Groupe Bernard Hayot (GBH), its current owner, which has successfully combined modern industrial production at the Simon distillery with the preservation of heritage. Today, the Habitation is a major cultural and artistic destination. Under the technical direction of cellar master Julien Thimon, every Rhum de la Martinique produced by Clément upholds values of authenticity, excellence, and respect for the terroir.

This aged agricole rum draws its essence from pure, freshly pressed sugar cane juice, cold-extracted according to the strict rules of the Martinique AOC. The canes, including the famous blue cane variety, are grown on selected plots chosen for their low yield, ensuring optimal aromatic concentration. After natural fermentation lasting 24 to 27 hours, the cane wine is distilled in continuous columns, producing a spirit with an alcohol content of between 65 and 75 degrees.

Before being put into barrels, the Rum rests in stainless steel vats for three to eight months. The aging of the 10 Years Old then takes place exclusively in the tropical climate, an environment that considerably accelerates the exchange between the wood and the spirit. The meticulous blend relies on a selection of barrels combining ex-bourbon American oak casks, which impart gentle notes of vanilla, and new 220-liter French oak barrels, which lend structure and aromatic intensity.

Finally, this product features redesigned packaging in 2026, with a bottle lightened by 23% and labels made of FSC-certified paper, underscoring the brand's eco-responsible commitment while highlighting its prestigious AOC status.