Valinch & Mallet Port Mourant The Spirit of Art 1997 25yr 50,3%

"My first PM or rather my first rum from Guyana. The nose is very unusual. The first impression is like smelling a freshly sulphurized wine barrel. I can't really pinpoint the smell. I'm not sure about the taste either, I know I know it, but I can't put my finger on it. Do I imagine that it reminds me of an Asian sauce or was it those cough drops that I once had to take? In any case, a very good rum that needs to be analyzed again. Edit: somehow I associate this rum with these Buscupan drops."

"8,7:On the nose, the first impression we get are tropical fruits like unripe banana, some vegetal notes like grass and dried fruits.The rum is estery.There is also roasted wood, spicy with cardamom, medicinal notes as polish and waxes. On aeration, herbal, minty notes arise with molasses, flowery, some ginger and yellow fruits, citrus.Very pleasant. 8,7:On the palate, the attack is creamy with fruity, spicy, vegetal notes, the wood is roasted, resinous.There are red bell peppers, cardamom and vanilla from spice notes, a variety of fruits like orange, unripe banana, melon, dried and yellow ones. The molasses is a bit bitter with, perhaps an olive, waxy, herbal and minty.After some rest, more bourbon notes are present, there are stronger yellow fruits with delicious peaches and caramel, some leather.Nicely balanced. 8,7:The finish is very similar as the palate, just more dry and mineral, musty, as the fruits are fermented... Very consistent through the tasting...Delicious."

"This is a very elegant PM that comes across very dignified. Many warm flavors without one particularly stands out! Very very tasty"

"Pleasantly surprised by this rather elegant and aromatic Port Mourant. The nose is fruity, with notes of melon in particular, and combines floral notes with darker, spicy aromas. Wood has had only a moderate influence, despite years of ageing. The palate is lifted by the "rougher" profile of Port Mourant, with licorice, aniseed, tobacco, earthy, floral and vegetal flavors. On the other hand, spices, wood, chocolate and dried fruit give the wine its gourmet character. The alcohol is well integrated. The finish is of decent length. Only then does the typical Port Mourant bitterness appear. But it's fairly discreet, blending well with the spices, woody notes and dried fruit. A very pleasant Port Mourant that doesn't fall into the trap of its still's common shortcomings. On the other hand, the bitterness is much more noticeable at the price level, which is rather high despite the rum's intrinsic quality."

"Hat irgendwie eine schwer zu definieren Nase, geht für mich in Richtung Politur, Klebstoff und Leder. Am Gaumen dann wiederum ganz anders, hier kommt er pflanzlich rüber und auch eine würzige Note ist zu erkennen. Gefällt mir aber."

"Toller Port Mourant. Ist schön ausgewogen mit Früchten, Holz und Gewürzen, zudem etwas Kräutrig. Nur wenig Bleistifft. Ist etwas auf der bitteren Seite, nimmt aber keine Überhand und ist gut integriert."

"Even though it is special, I really like the 1997 Port Mourant vintage. This one is particularly round and fruity, with a slightly astringent finish. Very high level!"

"#4057 Despite the age the wood has not taken over the reigns on their release. Overall a pretty well balanced release. Fruity with nice roasted wood and some light glue notes and spices. The palate is oily and warm/spicy, I like it and I decided to buy this one as well ☺️ The empty glass is really nice and I can pick up some chocolate and licorice. The glass still had powerful flavours the day after tasting."

"I didn’t take any notes at the Rhum Fest so a more detailed review will follow as soon as I get the chance to sample this rum again in a better context."

"Tasted at the end of RumFest, unfortunately, no notes and I doubt I will have the opportunity to try it again..."

"Au nez, on retrouve de la belle colle qui peut déplaire à certains mais que moi j’adore ! Mais pas que, bien évidemment, il y a du boisé, des épices et beaucoup de fruits tropicaux. Le nez est moins conventionnel que les PM habituels, mais c’est parfait à mon gout, je m’y replonge avec plaisir continuellement. En bouche, c’est intense et génial. Encore plus complexe que le nez. On a de la réglisse, des solvants, du boisé, des fruits rouges, des agrumes, de l’amande, de la vanille … La finale est longue et belle sur le boisé astringent. La conclusion est simple, quand la version de L’Esprit propose une image très traditionnelle de cet alambic, cette version de V&M, quand à elle, propose les marqueurs traditionnels du PM mais avec un profil plus rond et fruité. Du très haut niveau …"

"Tasted the Rum Fest.my favorite of the V series"

"Sehr herbe Früchte, die sich mit sehr angenehm kräftigen Aromen vereinen und den Alkohol außerordentlich gut einbinden. Man kann lange nachschmecken, Wasser hab ich nicht getraut zu geben. Zuviel Spaß habe ich daran, ihn auf der Zunge zu lutschen und mich durch die komplexen Aromen führen zu lassen. Hervorragend!"

"Typische PM Noten, die aber nicht herausragen. Dennoch ist der Rum ganz iO."