Velier Diamond & Versailles SVSG 1996 18yr 57,9%

"I am impressed! I have not had the rum in the glass for a long time. Meanwhile, I like it even better. Wonderfully complex blend. Currently I feel more Diamond with the typical glue note, molasses, wood, dark dry fruits, less Versailles notes."

"A blend that plays on the complementary aromas and opulence of the Demerara style. The alchemy works on the nose, with a dark, chocolatey woodiness that opens with spices (vanilla, cinnamon, licorice) before plunging into the darkness of Demerara: dried fruits (prunes, grapes), black tea, leather, notes of varnish, glue and polish, baked caramel and burnt sugar immerse us in this facet that is as dark as it is gourmand. A generous, refined and unrestrained profile. On the palate, the blend dons its dark cloak, with a strong concentration of roasted, grilled and even burnt aromas. Leather and wood take center stage, but are quickly overtaken by a myriad of spices (cinnamon, licorice, vanilla back in the mix), coffee and dark chocolate. Dried fruit and burnt sugar are there in support, with that pleasant, slightly bitter roasted warmth. The alcohol goes unnoticed in this landscape as dark as it is delicious. The finish, perhaps not as intense as the rest of the profile, nevertheless retains all its splendor with that very dominant dark side. However, black tea and floral notes suddenly emerge to underpin the profile, before fruit and a saline touch finalize the show. The two origins complement each other well, delivering a performance that lives up to expectations: intense, full-bodied and round, this blend is now arousing the curiosity of bottlers who are trying their hand at the exercise with the same combination, without ever managing to match this unicorn."

"Wow, what a beast, i really cant fathom how many wonders had to work here to make this that good, an uber spice blend and very komplex, little wiffs of glue on the background. A lot more Diamond than Versailles!"

"Die Bewertungen entspricht einer Blindverkostung, dank der neuen Funktion in der App. Im Nachhinein gesehen schon ein wenig zu schlecht von mir bewertet, aber trotz allem kein Highlight am dem Abend für mich. Mir war er ein wenig zu holzig bitter im Geschmack. Trotzdem danke an Jakob fürs teilen."

"Franconian Rum Tasting Gang & Jakob, 2023-07-27 Teil 2: Dunkel, schwer, würzig. Lakritze mit Trockenobst und ganz dunklen Beeren. Dunkle Schokolade, Tee und genau richtiges Maß an Holz. Ein Meisterwerk! Nochmals 0,5 cl verkostet und ich muss die Wertung etwas nach oben korrigieren."

"My hands were shaking with anticipation, as you can easily see from the blurred photo. Simply delicious."

"Blindverkostung: altes, dunkles, kontinentales Profil. Fruchtig, Holzig, Malzig … super lecker. Hab ihn beim ersten mal wohl doch nicht genug stehen lassen. Erste Verkostung: Mein zweiter Velier Demera-Blend … gefällt mir aus dem Stehgreif direkt besser als der zuletzt verkostete Diamon & Port Mourant (<W>PM) … das dunklere Diamond S Mark passt sehr schön zum Versailles. Lakritze und Kaffee vermischen sich hier mit Pflaume und Kräutern. Alles schön tropisch gereift und mit lecker Kleber und Lack dabei."