Review: Rums of Sugarfield Spirits, 2024 Releases
Sugarfield Spirits makes its home in Gonzalez, Louisiana and is the official vodka of Louisiana State University Athletics. However, rum is the true calling of this southern distillery. Louisiana is the top sugarcane producing state in America as it produces more than 2 million tons of raw sugar per year. As the American whiskey industry has taken a recent interest in heirloom grains, Sugarfield Spirits takes an interest in specific heirloom varieties of sugarcane for distillation. Sugarfield does most of their premium rum distillation with a copper pot still, as the spirit comes off around 165 to 170 proof. One criticism of the rum industry is the lack of transparency regarding whether or not sugar is added to the spirit before bottling. For premium offerings, Sugarfield proudly states that no sugar or additives are utilized.
Sugarfield provided samples of their Port Finished Single Barrel Rum (2024), Experimental Batch 7 Rum, and Experimental Batch 8 Rum for review. The Port finished rum will be a bit more familiar to whiskey drinkers, but Experimental Batch 7 and 8 will likely feel much more foreign as they are agricole-style rums. Agricole rum is distilled from the fermentation of freshly pressed sugarcane juice, as opposed to the much more common molasses. Historically, agricole-style rums are produced by countries and territories that were colonized by France. Located roughly halfway between Baton Rouge and New Orleans, Sugarfield Spirits happens to be located in a region that was also once a colony of France. The two agricole-style rums are both bottled without aging and serve to show the importance of terroir. Batch 7 and 8 are from the same growing season, but utilize different sugarcane varietals grown on different sides of the Mississippi River. The two cane juice rums are also distilled with the same yeast.
Americans tend to be more familiar with rums produced outside of the United States, but Louisiana’s Sugarfield Spirits hopes to change that. How did Sugarfield do? Laissez les bons temps rouler!
Sugarfield Spirts Port Finished Single Barrel Rum (2024) – This single barrel rum will feel much more familiar to the casual rum drinker as it utilizes molasses for fermentation. However, Sugarfield adds a twist, as blackstrap molasses is combined with cane sugar from Belle Rose, Louisiana for a fermentation of 6 days. While most aged rums utilize ex-bourbon barrels for maturation, this expression spent all three years of aging in a Port barrel baking in the hot Louisiana climate.
The Port influence is prominent on the nose as sweet and tangy cranberry sauce aromas rise from the Glencairn, as familiar notes of caramel and vanilla join in. Port wine continues to influence the rum as juicy dark plums join coriander to lead off on the palate. More sweet and rich notes surface as maple syrup and almond extract develop. For an aged rum of relative youth, the mouthfeel is very dense. Influence from the Port cask carries to the finish with a combination of dried fruits in the form of prunes and dried cranberries. The aromas of vanilla and caramel also carry to the finish to form flavors of Cow Tales candy. The dried dark fruit notes cling to the palate for a substantial amount of time.
Sugarfield’s Port Finished Single Barrel is a fun exercise in quality rum that doesn’t hail from the usual points of origin. The profile is quite different from traditional barrel-aged rums as the influence from the Port barrel is a welcomed detour. For those who prefer bourbon due to its being a “distinctive product of the United States” as opposed to foreign whisky, applying that same concept to barrel-aged rum makes for an excellent option. 111 proof. B+ / $45
Sugarfield Spirts Experimental Batch 7 Rum – Sugarcane for this run is from the fall harvest of 2023 and comes from Magnolia Mound Plantation on the eastern bank of the Mississippi River, just south of Baton Rouge. The sugarcane is hand-cut and hand-crushed at the LSU AgCenter Sugarcane Research Facility. Fresh cane juice at 18 brix is fermented for 48 hours with Lallemand RM yeast, then double pot distilled and bottled at 95 proof.
The unaged agricole-style rum opens with a familiar buttery toffee aroma, but the nose quickly takes a turn. Green bananas and Frosted Cheerios make up the bulk of the nosing experience. On the palate, bright cedar and grapefruit zest lead the way. The rum transitions to cherry Jolly Ranchers and a crisp, vegetal cucumber note. The oily mouthfeel is clearly telling of double pot distillation. Batch 7 offers a delicate finish by way of more cucumber with the addition of vanilla yogurt and honey.
I really liked this one, and wasn’t anticipating enjoying the unaged spirit this much. The rum is light and delicate, yet flavorful. I’m afraid that the nuances of Batch 7 might get lost in a cocktail, however. To fully appreciate this Louisiana white rum, I strongly suggest enjoying it neat. 95 proof. A- / $30
Sugarfield Spirts Experimental Batch 8 Rum – Batch 8 is distilled from fresh cane juice from Belle Rose, Louisiana on western side of the Mississippi River. The sugarcane is crushed at Lula-Westfield to produce 15 brix juice. As with Batch 7, Batch 8 is also fermented with Lallemand RM yeast. While Batch 7 was distilled twice on a pot still, Batch 8 utilizes a small 4-plate column for the finishing run.
Batch 8’s nose opens with an estery-rubber note mixed with watermelon rind. Allowing the rum to sit for a few minutes, underripe plum and vanilla develop. The palate offers a sharp and pungent floral note. As the strong floral note passes, vanilla and honey enter the picture. The mouthfeel offers a pleasing viscosity, but the lack of a pot still for the second run as compared to Batch 7 is clearly on display here. The finish offers more vanilla as it adds watermelon rind and a light underripe peach note.
Batch 8 is an enjoyable rum that is noticeably different from Batch 7, but without doubt, I enjoyed Batch 7 more as a neat pour when compared to Batch 8. Batch 8 offers more sharp floral notes that lend themselves to being a better option for a cocktail. Whereas Batch 7 is more apt to get lost in a cocktail, Batch 8’s character stands much taller. 92 proof. B / $30
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