Neisson Zetwal

Volume: 0.7 litres | Alcohol content: 49.4%

Special Features:

For Zetwal, Neisson blends aged rhums from stocks otherwise reserved for the Armada collection. The blend comprises the 2000, 2005, 2012 and 2013 distillation vintages. As Rhum Agricole AOC Martinique, it is made from sugarcane juice; the rhums were distilled on the distillery’s Creole Savalle column. Before bottling in 2023, slight dilution brought the alcohol strength to 49.4%.

Zetwal means star in Creole. The first edition is dedicated to Polaris, the North Star, recalling how sailors navigated on their Atlantic voyages. The ship motif on the decanter reflects this connection. Sébastien Schalchli of Le Secret Magnifique designed the decanter, which is made by the Portuguese crystal manufacturer Vista Alegre. The 0.7-litre decanter comes in a wooden box.

Tasting Notes:

• Nose: The nose is delicate and fresh, opening with apricot and pepper. With air, banana, guava and candied ginger emerge. Geranium flowers and roses mingle with currants and raspberries.
• Palate: The rum is lively on the palate. Subtle liquorice and lavender honey shape the opening, before orange and grapefruit quickly unfold. The mid-palate combines salted butter caramel with a sweetness reminiscent of warm cane sugar.
• Finish: The long, balanced finish begins with an impression of fibrous sugarcane. Candied apricots, quince jelly, mango coulis and flambéed bananas shape the delicate aftertaste. The mouthfeel remains supple and powdery.

Distillery/Bottler:

Neisson is rooted in Le Carbet on Martinique. In 1931, Adrien Neisson purchased land on the Thieubert estate and planted sugarcane; the distillery he built with his brother Jean was officially founded in 1932. Jean contributed his expertise as a chemical engineer and introduced slow fermentation with yeasts isolated from their own sugarcane. Neisson still uses its own yeasts today, with fermentation lasting between 72 and 120 hours.

The Savalle column, installed in 1952, is made entirely of copper. Jean adapted its plates and settings to develop the house’s distillation style. The equipment allows continuous distillation and is dismantled, inspected and reassembled every year. In 1995, his grandson Grégory Vernant and Grégory’s mother, Claudine Neisson Vernant, took over responsibility for the family business. The range also includes the old vintage rhums of the Armada collection, introduced by Neisson in 2017 to mark its 85th anniversary.

Facts: