Velier Nine Leaves Bourbon Barrel 2017

#4839 Whisky Live in Paris 27.09.2024-30.09.2024. Another great event meeting a lot of RumX new and old friends. This year three weren't as many new releases as in 2023, but I still had a great time. Nose Fresh, round, light wood, faint mint, light caramel, light peaches, spice, sugarcane, light floral. Palate Round, light floral, faint coconut, fruits, light sugarcane, faint caramel, light orange, faint pepper. Finish Medium to long, warm, light coconut, fruits, light citrus, light anise, light earthy. These bottles Mark the end of Nine Leaves in Japan and it's pretty sad because he really knew how to make and mature rum. If you get the chance you should try out the five releases which are pretty similar and still pretty different.

In the test today were the canidates from the Bourbon, Russian and American (2016) barrel. I couldn't really taste any major differences, and they are all very similar. All in all, none of the three really blew me away. If I had to give a ranking, it would look like this: RX21838 RX21835 RX21836

Strange notes in this set that I find difficult to describe. With the original Nine Leaves, they were not so present to me. It reminds me most of yeast spirit from beer breweries. Bourbon note, which many rum lovers will not like. But the rum doesn't have any off-notes like some others in the series.

Ausgewogener, moderner japanischer Rum mit ungewöhnlichem Profil. Kräuterige Noten treffen auf eine feine Süße, begleitet von etwas Minze, leichtem Rauch und dezenten Fruchtnuancen. Im Mund wirkt er mild und harmonisch, mit einem angenehmen Trinkfluss. Nicht besonders komplex, aber definitiv spannend und gut gemacht.

A very special drop... In the nose peach, orange, bourbon, pepper and clearly floral notes is getting better and better with time and I already like it. On the palate a little sweetness with peach, a little peppery spiciness and sugar cane. The bourbon barrel is also very clear on the palate, which I personally like. Slightly reminiscent of a cognac.

last drops: pflanzlich, grasig und rauchig. Schmeckt wie eine Kreuzung aus Agricole und Mezcal. Interessant unf lecker. 81 Pkt. 2017 bourbon barrel 7yr: Die Nase ist sehr gut, sehr intensiv nach Bourbon. Am Gaumen ebenfalls sehr Bourbonlastig, die anderen Aromen gehen etwas unter im schlecht eingebundenen Alkohol. Hintenraus im Abgang kommen noch frische Früchte zum Vorschein. 72 Pkt. russian oak: Wesentlich vollmundiger und intensiver am Gaumen. Trockenfrüchte, Holz und Leder, dazu eine interessante süße Note, die ich gerade nicht zuordnen kann. Der Abgang ist mittellang und warm. Doch auch hier könnte der Alkohol besser eingebunden sein. 75 Pkt. american oak 2016: Von der Nase dem Bourbon Barrell sehr ähnlich. Am Gaumen dann bislang der geschmeidigste mit gut eingebundenem Alkohol. Der Abgang mittwllang, trocken mit getrockneten roten Früchten und Holz. 78 Pkt. ex-american oak 2014: Interessant fruchtig mit einer ähnlichen süße, die ich kaum definieren kann. Irgendwas mit karamell und Fruchtgummi aus Bonn. Der Alkohol ist gut eingebunden, der Abgang mittellang und trocken. 79 Pkt. Alles interessante Abfüllungen, die ihrem Hype meiner Meinung nach nicht gerecht werden. Wobei der Hype sich eher um die Geschichte der Destille dreht und nicht um den Geschmack der Rums. Was mich nach dem kleinen Tasting nicht wundert.

Whisky Live Paris 2024 (trade fair evaluation, only overall rating and personal recommendation to buy): Again, the special profile of the whole Nine Leaves range present, but too restrained for my taste. I don't have to have a bottle. Small Nine Leaves Cross Tasting - 2025-03-11: The bourbon cask is perceptible on the palate and in the finish. Quite drinkable, but despite its comparatively good availability, the sample is enough for me.

First impression on the nose was Ouzo for me. There is a lot of herbs in this one. Plenty of anise in there indeed. With some time this gets even „thicker“, however. I would disprove this as a spruce / forrest nose. Heavy on herbal and green notes. More sweetness with cream toffee and vanilla on the palate than expected. Cream texture with bourbon influence on an sugar cane profile. Much more accessible than I expected from the nose.

Ah ... much better than the white one. The rich bourbon notes suit the distillate very well. The whisky-like notes are barely perceptible. You can drink it like that. Doesn't blow me away, but I drank the sample ... edit: went down the sink after all.

Nine Leaves Serie No.2: An der Nase nehme ich süß-/säuerliche Hefenoten, Bohrbon und leicht Johannisbeeraromen wahr. Am Gaumen verteilt er sich angenehm weich, ist hier aber recht eindimensional. Neben viel Würze nehme ich u. a. eine Bitternote wahr, die mich etwas stört. Dieses setzt sich leider im Abgang fort.

A more sensual Japanese rum thanks to the bourbon barrel. The nose retains the Nine Leaves archetype of fresh, floral and earthy character, warm spices (chili, pepper, salt) and rather exotic fruitiness, with yuzu lemon to the fore. The sugar cane is sweeter and honeyed, the caramel more present, and the bourbon rounds out the Asian profile, which is generally rather spicy. Citrus fruits lead a dazzling counter-attack, captivating the palate with their sweet acidity. Bourbon has a notable influence here, promoting spices (vanilla, pepper, chili), caramel and toasted oak. The sugarcane is softer, the vegetal and peaty notes more subtle. The profile is less extreme, perhaps less peachy, but more balanced. The alcohol is well integrated into the profile. The finish is pleasant, with good length, at a crossroads between fruit (lime, dried fruit), earthy aromas (tobacco, peat), spices and the sweetness of bourbon. The result is a round, elegant rum. The profile is pleasant to drink and well-balanced, but unfortunately loses some of its medicinal edge in favor of additional gourmandise. Nonetheless, the bourbon cask has done its job perfectly and seems to fit in well with the Japanese style. It remains to be seen whether future vintages will follow the same pattern.

On the nose very elegant and balanced aromas of lime, lemongrass, caramel, eucalyptus, yellow and tropical fruits such as mango and persimmon and of course intense bourbon flavors. On the palate, the bourbon barrel is clearly noticeable but there are also aromas of persimmon, lime and orange peel, vanilla and caramel as well as some coconut but also slightly floral after some oriental massage oil (ylang ylang)? 😅 Definitely very oily and pleasant to drink with a pleasant, subtle sweetness. Reminds me subtly of matured Reimonenq or Pere Labat. Very tasty but not absolutely outstanding.

Auch ungewöhnlich, wie RX 21838, aber für mich lecker und gut gemacht.

Wundervolle pfeffrige Nase auch mit einer schönen süße. Auch am Gaumen wirklich toller rum. Schon rund und röstig. Pfeffer und Bourbon. Muss mir dann doch noch ne Flasche sicher. Allerdings kein 9ner.

2 tasting: more fruity, round and a little bit rubber/ dirt that I remember. Score is the same. Rum tasting at a friend's house. Nose: Same as the first Nine Leaves, but now with more woody, smoky, and floral notes. Vanilla and lime zest. Palace: Less dry than the first. More spicy and smoky. You can clearly taste the bourbon barrel. Finish: Medium and smoky. Floral.