Velier Isautier Small Batch

 A rum balanced in aromas, for my taste far too much. A fine rum, but the column distillation limits its potential. The nose reveals a light roastiness accompanied by dark chocolate, wood and spice. On the palate there is wood, spice, faint roasting/roasting and balsamic notes with a not too long lychee/grape finish. One senses the use of ex-cognac barrels that give it a refined profile close to agricole. A rum that needs attention, but personally not my style.

 20.12.2023 Having a retaste today and it's a lot better than the first time. I wonder if it's because the bottle has been opened and we took some glasses and then closed it again. Definitely a lot better and this time a much higher score. -------------- #4011 This one was very disappointing compared to the other two. Everything is off and not really balanced. maybe it's the triple cask maturation that went wrong? The price tag on this one is also half of the other two, but I wouldn't buy this one to be honest. Tomorrow I'll finish up the last 3 I have if the 15 year old (September 06 - December 21) has been added to the database.

 Banana, lots of banana. Then very spicy and a prime example of tropical wood maturity, the oak is perfectly integrated. Great solvent. In the mouth then full-bodied and warm. Perfect alcohol. Horny plastic nodes in the finish. The little brother of the Traditionnel 2005 and equally good.

 Now that's a seductive rum! Wonderful, these mango and peach notes! The only thing that detracts from the overall impression is, in my opinion, the overpowering alcohol on the palate, of which there is really no trace on the nose. Now I really must try the 16-year-old brother (also molasses)! Thanks to Olivia for the sample. Update 2023-12-20: Online blind tasting 20.12.2023 with 6 very different, but precisely for this reason quite excellent rums, none of which I would particularly like to emphasize in retrospect, each tasted good in its own way and brought its character to the flight, which is why no points were awarded. A great tasting with friends, in which each of us contributed a blind sample. Order RX17286 RX726 RX9954 RX3604 RX39 RX12384 If you want to know what an extract of overripe apricots tastes like, try RX12384, simply delicious.

 Wow! My Isautier reference so far! I wouldn't have expected that. Extremely harmonious, palatable, mild and complex. Intense mango, papaya and peach notes are complemented by milk chocolate and mint as well as rose petals and eucalyptus tea. Very creamy mouthfeel, the alcohol is perfectly integrated. In the finish, the wood and a slight saltiness and bitterness are subtly noticeable, but then the mint and mango return. Very cool. It doesn't always have to be savanna after all. Very harmonious! If you know the 2007 savanna grand arome vintage, you can clearly recognize parallels here!

 First Isautier and at the same time first Agricole from Reunion for me. Wow. Horny stuff. Already in the nose incredibly complex, peach and tropical wood, maybe some pepper.In the taste then full mouthfeel and incredibly well integrated alcohol. Really Agricole Feeling as with Martiniques does not come up, for this the rum is too mature. Rather long and good oak barrel aging. Finish is then nice and long, also here at no time alcoholic sharpness, rather sweetness and desire for more.

 now finally times the brother of the 16er in the glass, but based on molasses. The notes on the nose I like really well, allspice, milk chocolate, caramel, fruity jam, barrel. On the palate roasty-spicy over to slightly salty, then in the finish rather woody and with a slight bitterness.

 Very tasty ... really like the profile. The cognac cask really comes into its own. Update: The bottle is now empty and it was delicious to the end - even if the last few drams in the bottle were quite cloudy.

 Takes a while to develop in the glass. Lots of fruit on the nose, peach and apricot are very present. There are also floral notes, spices and wood. On the palate, a very present mint note and also lots of fruit and wood.

 Promising on the nose. Good on the palate, but less good than the nose suggests. Second try: I like the nose even better than before and I also enjoy it more on the palate this time.

 Round rum with a thoroughly pleasant and complex nose. A subtle sweetness in the mouth complements the otherwise somewhat sour and bitter side. You also have to love the herbal notes to rate the rum 9/10. However, the vanilla, chocolate and tropical fruits bring the rum very close for me.

 A good Rum, as usual tasted without looking at the stats. The Rhum is of the Molasses type I think, and I recognize French cask maturation. I never had Isautier before, so I am not sure what to expect. The cask is very present on the tongue, which I do not get often. Fruit, wood and spices. The aftertaste is has a mix of herbs and malt to it. The Alcohol is not rough, and there is no sweetness overall. In total this Rum is well made, rounded and balanced - just not my taste.

 A well-balanced rum! Too well-behaved for me though, it lacks the surprising elements

 I was looking forward to this one. First Isautier for me. Beautifully intense, powerful and good on the nose. Spicy fruity and creamy sweet. Pleasant creaminess with vanilla meets apricot and papaya. Also has something of fruit bread. In addition, slightly woody and the scent of dried tobacco leaves. I really like what I smell there. Also full-bodied and intense on the palate. Again spicy-fruity-woody, with a pleasant acidity of blackcurrant and lemon zest. A bit bitter, then salty, then fruity sour sweet. Mint comes through and the wood, perhaps with some more hazelnut and chocolate toffee. Still bitter on the finish and increasingly green. I like it decidedly well.

 Always nice to taste some samples on vacation. Girlfriend prefers yesterday’s Rasta Morris Bielle. I agree that it’s more elegant, but for me two different drinks. This is, in my Tagesform, an easy sipper with some nice bourbon and wood influences and not overly complex. Solid 8.2.