From Sparrow’s rum list, Clement Rhum VSOP is an aged rhum agricole from Martinique, a more elegant, complex style of rum that rewards slow sipping ($15 by the pour, or $22.50 for a larger pour).
About Clement Rhum VSOP
Clement is one of Martinique’s most historic rum houses, based at the Habitation Clement estate in Le Francois. What sets it apart is that it is a rhum agricole, made from fresh-pressed sugarcane juice rather than molasses, a distinctive French Caribbean tradition protected by Martinique’s AOC designation. This VSOP is aged a minimum of four years in oak, which is what earns the VSOP (Very Superior Old Pale) classification and gives the rum its color and depth. The fresh-cane base and the barrel time together produce something that drinks more like a fine aged spirit than a typical rum.
Tasting Notes
Aged agricole rums like this tend to be drier and more aromatic than molasses-based rums, with the grassy, vegetal character of fresh sugarcane underneath layers of oak. Expect notes of toasted vanilla, cocoa, gentle baking spice, and a touch of tropical fruit, all carried on a smooth, refined body.
What to Pair It With
This is a sipping rum. Enjoy it neat or over a single large cube in our 21+ lounge with the quartzite bar, where its complexity has room to open up. If you want food alongside, the richer plates on the Sparrow dinner menu like the American Wagyu steaks or the Braised Duck make a fine match.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is rhum agricole?
Rhum agricole is a style of rum made from fresh-pressed sugarcane juice instead of molasses. Clement makes it in Martinique under the island’s AOC designation, and this VSOP is aged a minimum of four years.
How much is a pour of Clement Rhum VSOP at Sparrow?
At Sparrow in Kirkland, Clement Rhum VSOP is $15 by the pour, or $22.50 for a larger pour.
Find it on the Sparrow beverages menu near other aged sippers like the Amrut Old Port and the Kirk & Sweeny Reserva. We are in Kirkland’s Juanita neighborhood on the Eastside, so reserve a table and come sip it.