J. Bally Brut de Fût (LMDW) 2006 15yr 57,5%

"Very balanced Agricole at the highest level. Cocoa, coffee, barrel notes and spices meet fruit notes and leather. Very complex without becoming unbalanced. Tastes quite close to the 98 BdF profile; the nose is even a tad ahead. The '99 comes off a bit heavier and suits my personal tastes best. All three bottlings are on the highest level and embody Agricole of the top class."

"A classy rhum agricole, with a dark, elegant and complex nose. The woodiness is intense and noble, followed by spices (vanilla, pepper, cinnamon, licorice). There are hints of dark chocolate, coffee, cigar and leather. Fruit, discreet at first, then develops into raisin and dried apricot, followed by red fruit notes (cherry). Vegetal and floral notes are light, allowing the rum to express itself without being too bitter and agricultural. The attack on the palate is particularly woody, but very elegant. Dark notes of coffee, spices (notably licorice), dark chocolate, tobacco, roasted notes and leather make this a slightly bitter rum, but deep and intense. Fruit brings balance, with notes of orange, red fruit and dried fruit (grape and prune). The floral, vegetal notes of sugarcane are secondary. The alcohol is very well integrated. The very long finish opens with beautiful fruity notes (cherry, raspberry, raisin, prune, orange zest), then continues on the palate with dark, spicy and bitter notes to the fore. An intense, elegant, well-structured rum that deserves its title of nobility."

"Butter and varnished wood on the nose with fruit; acerola, kumquat and greengage. Leather and bitter herbs. The attack on the palate is frankly alcoholic, but immediately the fruit blossoms with the other aromas, spices, young wood and a slightly earthy side. The finish is very long and harmonious. All the aromas finish in unison, and the woodiness is elegant. An old tropical wooden house with lots of fruit baskets emerges from the empty glass, with a hint of smokiness that was previously discreet. A very fine rum, but far behind the splendid 1999 brut de fût."

"Für mich nach dem 1999, der beste aus dem Hause Bally. Toller Agricole der mit einer schönen Komplexität punkten kann"

"Full proof versions are definitely the best agricole rums ! A complex nose with a perfect balance between round and dry notes. On the palate, quite woody, dry and bitter with some hints of burnt caramel but still some round and fruity notes to balance the profile. Amazing ! Different but, as good as the 2004 from Whisky Live 2023 😋"

"Nosing starts off with a robust and concentrated profile. Winecellar notes: dried fruits, must, wood and more than anything - it smells old. Leather jacket. Phenol. Earthy and lightly smoked. However there is a leafy, vibrant heart to this. Bark and licorice at the very end. After a good while, some lively fruits appear. Cherries, both ripe and unripe, orange peel, and red apple. In the mouth untamed, spicy and roasted. The wood continues and remains manageable. The spices, however, are cranked to a 100% here. Much more vanilla upfront, with a vegetal umami and peppery background. Dominant licorice and more leather jacket. The fruits turn much more concentrated to raisins and prunes. It’s tannic and wine-like. In the throat immediately musty and surprisingly herbal with notes such as basil and oregano. Finish is medium in length and holds an excellent balance between fruits, herbs, sugars and spices. Very well executed rum."

"Der zweite Bally für heute, noch mal 4 Jahre älter und mit knapp 58% vermute ich von allem etwas mehr. Nase: oh ja, kräftig und intensiv, fruchtig-würzig-holzig aber auch leicht süßlich. Zunächst kommt mir duftendes Kirschbaumholz in die Nase, begleitet von Fruchtnoten in Richtung Kirsche, Pflaume und säuerlicher Cassis mit Orange und frischen Zitrusfrüchten. Etwas süße Lakritze und diese säuerliche Note erinnern mich auch an Melassesirup (obwohl das hier natürlich nichts damit zu tun hat). Die Würze ist eine Mischung aus Muskat, Nelke, Anis und Vanille. Alles sehr trocken, voluminös und rund. 88 Gaumen: wow, kräftig und intensiv, würzig-holzig. Duftendes Kirschbaumholz. Dunkle Schokolade und Kakaopulver mit einer leicht bitteren Holzsäure kommen mir zuerst in den Sinn. Gleich dahinter aber auch umgehend eine feine Orangen-Note mit Pflaume und Brombeere. Die Säure bekommt etwas minziges und geht sehr schön in die cremige Schokolade über und wandelt sich langsam zum grasigem Zuckerrohr mit weicher Lakritze, zum Ende wird alles nochmal mit Dörrpflaume bereichert. Gefällt mir richtig gut. 88 Starker und voluminöser Agricole, wunderbar intensiv und rund."