Velier Saint James Sélection exclusive Velier 1998

Compared to the 2002 this one is far lighter overall and it's my number two of these 10 releases. A light fruity profile with fruits ans some cinnamon and light wood. An elegant and well rounded old rum.

Rather woody, but round, complex, no off notes, long finish.

Tasted at a private tasting. Very old and delicate.

Karamell, nussig, getrocknete Früchte. Ein sehr schöne, runde Nase. Sehr gut ausbalanciert. Tolles Mundgefühl. Nun holzig und prickelnde Zitrusfrüchte. Süffig. Langer Abgang. Der Prototyp eines reifen Saint James und einer der Besseren der Serie. Fazit: Die jüngeren Vintages der Velier Serie taugen nicht viel. Die seifigen Noten, welche ich ansonst von keinem Saint James kenne, kippen das Profil. Die älteren Jahrgänge sind dann sehr gut, aber diese Qualität ist bei Agricoles mittlerweile Standard. Sehr gut ist die Trinkstärke gewählt. Ein großer Wurf ist diese Serie am Ende nicht, sie wird in den Regalen von Sammlern und Investoren verschwinden.

Complex, creamy and not too much wood influence. Perfect alcohol strength. The highlight of the series for me.

Profilo tipico di saint james! Qualità della canna da zucchero ottima ed è molto percepibile! Una noto molta marcata di agrumi e di erbe in tutta la degustazione! A mio parere i 47 gradi portano un po’ troppo alla luce la parte aromatica della botte, ma gli dona una beva straordinaria! Mi aspettavo qualcosina in più, dopo aver assaggiato innumerevoli bottiglie di SJ, i millesimi più vecchi anno uno sprint in più!

Un gran Saint James, complesso anche se a tratti si sente un po’ il legno.

Ausgezeichnet Saint James mit viel Schokolade, Vanille, fruchtig, richtig menge holz und lange Gaumen.

Amazingly soft to me

In the nose wonderful melting of nougat, vanilla and caramel, plus oak and cocoa and green notes of hay and citrus. An aromatically coherent profile on the palate as well, but lacking the final balance, as the alcohol is a bit too present for me given the reduced strength. Nevertheless, my favorite of the series.

Bouche : beau concentré, épicé sur les gencives, frais aussi Très beau profil, très noble

Similar to the Saint James 2000 from this release, the 1998 delivers a lot darker and sweeter flavours. The fresh fruity side present in vintages from 2002 and above is converted to really dark and sweet dried fruits here.

Parallel tasting of the Velier Saint James range in the Franconian Tasting Gang. Thanks Dom for teasing me 👌 All in all, the set is not outstandingly good for me, but rather average with a few outliers at the top and bottom. Short summary by vintages: 2015 & 2014 were rather unpleasant for me. 2010 & 2012 better but still nothing I would want to drink again. 2008 & 2006 & 2004 were much better and more interesting. 2002 then a total failure again (cat piss that develops into multivitamin tablets and doesn't go with the wood at all). 2000 was good again and 1998 was the best of the set for me.

Great VSGB Vertcal live tasting by and with Luca Gargano. 22.10.2022, 17:11. 75% Angel Share! No 1998 barrels left! Nose: elegant, full-bodied and aromatic. Spicy, woody, fruity, sweet. Old blood orange and light acidity from currant to caramel and toffee. Plus fragrant wood and sweet, soft Danish licorice. A slight soapy note out the back. Very tasty and pleasant. Palate: briefly woody bitter, then linear rising acidity, woody acidity that flattens out with lemon and fades into resinous wood with sugar cane and hay. Seems a bit diluted at the back. Sufficiently intense for only 47%. Pleasantly woody, slightly too acidic. Place: N: 4/10 G: 6/10

Franconian Rum Tasting Gang, 2024-05-10, Saint James 25 AOC Anniversaire (danke an Dom): Der 1998er hat mir aus der kompletten Reihe insgesamt noch am besten gefallen. Frucht, Würze und Holz schön ausbalanciert. Und nichts von der seifigen Note die bei vielen der Reihe anzutreffen war.