How to drink agricole rum? Give this Ti Punch a go

Ti Punch is to the French what G&T is to the British, and Husk Distillers, Australia’s only agricole rum distillery, is introducing their expression of this style of spirit to local bartenders as they move to change the way Australian’s perceive and drink rum.

If you’re not familiar with agricole rum, you’re not alone – it accounts for only 3-4% of world rum production and remains a largely unexplored category in Australia.

Agricole rums are the traditional French style rums, produced on a few small islands in the French Caribbean, notably Martinique, and made from freshly crushed cane juice rather than molasses. Typically dry, herbaceous and fruity they are less sweet than rums made from molasses.

Husk Distillers was established in 2012 after a trip to the Caribbean inspired Paul Messenger and Mandaley Perkins to create an Australian expression of this rare style of rum on the family’s cattle and cane farm in Northern NSW.

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Starting with select local cane varieties grown on the family farm and blending a long, slow ferment with a malt whisky-style double distillation, they created an agricole that they say is “well suited to the Australian palate.”

The first in a series rums created for bartenders, Pure Cane unaged agricole is a crisp, fresh youthful cane spirit full of herbaceous and grassy notes with citrus and fruit aromas. It’s distilled at higher strength and bottled at lower strength (40% Alc./Vol.) than French Caribbean agricoles to deliver a light and fresh spirit for Australian tastes.

Spiced Bam Bam, the second release in the North Coast Bar series, is a 3 year old barrel aged agricole rum infused with a selection of whole native and raw organic botanicals and a pinch of sea salt. Roasted wattle seed, vanilla and cinnamon are forward on the palate while native Australian ginger and golden berries round out the back and make Spiced Bam Bam highly approachable neat or mixed.

How do you drink agricole, you ask?

Husk Distillers Martinique born and bred distiller Quentin Brival says “The North Coast Bar series was created with and for bartenders looking for a totally unique and top quality Australian craft rum.”

“Pure Cane is the ideal base for a wide range of rum based cocktails, especially daiquiris, mojitos and caipirinhas but being French-Caribbean, I recommend Ti Punch. It’s short, punchy, flavourful and to the point, the perfect bartenders drink.”

He also says that the spices in Spiced Bam Bam compliment an already beautifully aged rum. Therefore it can truly be enjoyed neat or on the rocks and it is super versatile in cocktails.

Ti Punch Recipe

  • 60ml Husk Distillers Pure Cane
  • 1 lime coin (mostly pith)
  • ½ – 1 teaspoon of sugar (to taste)

Pour sugar into a rocks glass. Pinch & drop the lime coin over the sugar. Let the sugar mostly dissolve. Add ice if desired, pour over Pure Cane. Stir down and sip slowly.

Quentin & the Husk Distillers team will be in Sydney this weekend for Sugarcane Sunday. They will be running an industry masterclass on Monday 9th April at 1pm, The Lobo Plantation – all are welcome. RSVP here: https://www.facebook.com/events/161044931240910/ or by emailing harriet@huskdistillers.com.