The Whisky Jury Enmore (Versailles) The Many Faces of Rum 1990

This is Versailles as he likes! Despite the long storage, the wood is not too dominant, herbs, leather, vanilla, anise and covertly some dried fruit are perceptible. In addition, clearly also pencil shavings. Creamy and soft, the alcohol is perfectly integrated. Only the complexity is missing, but that is complaining at a high level.

Quite on the herbaceous side. Nice intensity with well integrated alcohol. Nicely balanced 1990 Versailles. Fun to drink!

Versailles style in its purest form. Pencil shavings, barrel aromas, licorice, green pepper, plus some anise and discreet fruit as well as a hint of vanilla sweetness - very pleasing bouquet and quite impressive how balanced the barrel influence still is here, despite the very long storage time. The alcohol integration is also impeccable. This is indeed pure Versailles, although this is somewhat at the expense of aromatic complexity. A great rum!

A continental Enmore with a heavy hand on spices and herbs (thank you, Versailles). The nose oscillates between spices (anise, licorice, vanilla, pepper) and woody notes that veer towards leather and incense on the one hand, followed by herbs, eucalyptus, dried fruit, tobacco and pencil shavings on the other. An original and pleasant profile, but lacking a little complexity. The attack on the palate is herbaceous to the extreme. Lots of herbs (rosemary, thyme, eucalyptus) and spices (aniseed, licorice) that draw on the bitterness of leather and toasted wood, with a hint of tobacco and pencil shavings. While the Versailles style is instantly recognizable, the dilution spoils the pleasure. The alcohol is well integrated, but a little more gourmandise would have been nice too. The finish is of decent length, with the same grassy, spicy, slightly warm, caffeinated and cocoa-flavored tendency. Dried fruit and tobacco are also present on the finish. A rum typical of its time, far from bad, but lacking the overall depth to reach the top.

Strange one, much more floral/herbal than the others. Also relatively light and missing the heavy intensity. Not my favorite tonight. //update: the herbs are much more balanced in a second run, some leather & vanilla notes are added. Like it better than before, but still can’t fully convince me.

Sehr gutes, rundes Versailles-Profil! Finde ich richtig gut!

Updated rating (+3) after several months of opening the sample. Seems more balanced and enjoyable even if still not overly complex. Not too complex, a lot of herbs on the nose with some Flowers and pencil aroma. On palate some more of this but also aniseed and a bit of a lemon peel. Thanks Tom for sharing a sample.

Hmmm ... really very toned down. Since the VSG El Dorado tastes much better to me. Very restrained and herbaceous. Lots of marjoram and oregano with some rosemary then on the palate. Some wood, tobacco. Is not mine and not at all what I expect from a Versailles distillate. Is no longer "good" for me and lands below 7.

First impression: quite nice with herbal notes. Oregano/rosemary?

The Enmore profile is anazing! But there is sooo much water in it.

it’s springtime, alergy time. So my nose is a bit blocked which effects my tasting abilities. Well, this rum is similar to the El Dorado Versaille, but like a diluted version. Floral and herbal notes dominate nose and palate. I’ve read “oregano” in one of the tasting notes which brings it quite to the point. A light, well balanced rum with a short finish

Very herbaceous in the direction of rosemary / oregano. In addition, quite dry and somewhat grassy.

Nose: Very light nose, floral, a little hay meadow, dried marjoram. Palate: Unobtrusive, almost delicate but at the same time very defined.... one could say "clean". Dry herbs, Williams pear, a touch of bitterness out the back. Not really my favorite Guyanese profile, but this is a good one to sip. Alcohol perfectly integrated (but doesn't have much percentages). No off notes, everything chic and clean. Possibly too clean for the hardcore Versaillers?! Finish: Relatively short, but pleasing. Unfortunately, too expensive for what is offered.

As far as I can remember this is my first Enmore. And to be honest, I think has to grow on me some more. It's not that I don't like it but it doesn't grab me like some other rums do. Being from the Whisky Jury, a well sought after bottler from near Mechelen, Belgium, my anticipations were probably to high and so far they didn't meet.

Lots of herbs and spices!