Saint James Rum Releases Cuvée 1765 to Mark 250th Anniversary

photo by Amanda Schuster

You might be reading this article on your phone. At the very least, you require some sort of electronic device to access it online. Now imagine living in Europe in the year 1765. When news arrived, if it even reached you at all, it was in the form of words handwritten on parchment, delivered by a messenger, probably passed off by someone who arrived by ship. The French and British are fighting again, spreading rumors about each other throughout Prussia, Austria, Hungary, Spain and whatever constitutes Russia’s ever-changing borders. Tensions are high. Laws make little sense. Complete buffoons are competing to be in line for the highest offices. And monks are making rhum in Martinique to soothe the weary.

In 2015, in a modern world rife with oddly similar struggles, Saint James Rum is marking its 250th anniversary with its Cuvée 1765 release. Saint James, the English version of Saint Jacques, as it would have been known at the time on French-speaking Martinique, was first produced by the Brothers of Charity for the British colonies. The name “James” was considered more categorically “marketable," so the name stuck, as did the spelling of "rum" vs. "rhum."

Today, Saint James is produced under the Rhum Agricole AOC of Martinique, made from the fresh juice of sugarcane grown in the fields of Saint-Marie. It was the first rhum from the island to create vintage-specific releases, allowing the characters of that growing season to live on in the glass. The heavy glass bottle design is a legacy from the time it was necessary to endure long sea voyages to arrive at its destination. Its square shape was designed so the bottles could be stored efficiently in the holds of the ships and maximize space.

Cuvée 1765 is a blend created by master blender Myriam Bredas and oenologist Marc Sassier, who selected six vintages that together recreate the style and flavors of the rhum that would have been made in that year. The distillates are aged in a combination of French or American Oak barrels.

This golden amber rhum/rum is dry, tart and roasty, with the typical rummy butterscotch sweetness only making a guest appearance toward the finish like a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it Hitchcock cameo. It has a medium weight that goes down clean, smooth and elegant with a touch of herbaceousness and tobacco smoke.

18th century Martinique might not be a top priority on your time machine setting. However, pouring a glass of this rhum is a delicious way to sit and ponder the goings on of the world, while tasting a throwback to history.