Following the success of its hand-crafted gin, vodka, and whiskey, Sydney-based Archie Rose Distilling Co. will release its first limited edition offering inspired by traditional French Colonial agricole rhums: Virgin Cane Spirit.

Rhum agricole is the French term for rum made from cane juice.

“The spirit will come as something of a surprise” for people who are more familiar with common rum, says Archie Rose Founder Will Edwards. The distillery is “very proud to bring back a spirit reflecting the land and its raw, unprocessed produce.”

Sugar cane grown locally in Condong, NSW is cut and pressed into fresh juice within 12 hours of harvest; yeast is added immediately and the juice ferments as it is transported to the distillery, then the fermented wash is distilled three times in copper pot stills which produce a rich, distinctive spirit.

In talking about the ingredients, Archie Rose stipulates that it is against burning the sugar cane.

“Burning the cane can negatively impact the flavour and condition of the juice and since our product will have minimal processing we wanted to retain as much of the quality of the fresh cane as possible,” says Production Manager Dave Withers.

Withers states that spirits made with sugar cane juice “can be quite challenging” given its herbaceous, grassy and vegetal qualities and that his goal was to create a characterful spirit that is accessible to consumers and versatile for use in a variety of cocktails.

Archie Rose Virgin Cane Spirit will be available from Friday 18 November.

Available at Archie Rose Distilling Co, and www.archierose.com.au

RRP $99 / 700ml / 50% Alc/Vol