The Whisky Jury Bellevue Rum Guadeloupe (TAST‘TOE) 1998 23yr 53,2%

"When I opened this bottle first, it boasted an incredibly dense profile, not portraying much else than musty wine bottles in a damp cellar. I didn’t think too much of it, didn’t particularly like it, and perhaps was even left a little disappointed. Looking at all the other ‘98 Bellevue reviews, I figured I had to be doing something wrong. After racking the bottle for a while, I realised this rum needs bottle maturation and excessive amounts of aeration (>hour) to reach its full potential. And what a beast it has become. On the nose it opens with camphor. Cool, musty and flowery aromas that slowly evolve into a more vegetal profile with pressed sugarcane, corn and red rhubarb. It’s sweet and sour with a mix of tropical fruits and a subtle sweetness; heavily seasoned with Indonesian spices (think nutmeg and ginger root). It’s extremely complex, yet surprisingly still well-balanced. In the mouth lots of wood, then tropical mix before dispersing into vegetal and spicy notes: peppers, aniseed and ginger root. It’s tannic and reflects many old red wine factors. Again very complex. The finish is medium long. Hot in the throat. Playful with lemon black tea, mint and geranium. Perhaps a bit kombucha-like."