Velier Saint James Velier 70th Anniversary 2008

Last one of my little St. James flight, I like this one the most. It is rare I find an aged Agricole still being fruity, herbal and woody. This has it all. However, it is quite intense, and most definitely needs time to appreciate - do not sip it lazily by the side.

Typical Saint James profile. Naturally very powerful, prior ventilation necessary. Lavender in the base, for which the Velier 10 edition is notorious, only here it fits well. In the mouth it is simply too strong. A few drops of water make it drinkable. Very spicy and woody. Very good. Ranks in the top league of Saint James.

Superb. Very surprising The nose is woody but light. You can smell the cognac. Same on the palate, with the cognac taking over, delicious. Alcohol very well integrated, especially after 15/20 mins aeration. Very good length 😍😍😍

A dark nose marked by old oak, with dark chocolate, prunes and a fresh, sour apple character. Smooth on the palate, the entry is almost discreet, still on the dark side and with less fruit than on the nose. A hint of spiciness and pepperiness spoils my enjoyment just a little. The finish is marked by sour apple and prune. The finish is long and the final notes are woody, but with a vanilla-like quality that softens the oak, which is quite present. The empty glass is marked by yellow fruit. A fairly coherent rum with diverse expressions that give it a lovely complexity. A very fine St James. A far cry from the splendid BdF 1999, which remains my benchmark.

Saint James has it under the hood. In my opinion, this is just the beginning of the brand's premiumization.

In fact, a touch better than the Les Ephemeres. Nice and strong and wild. Could I drink forever

A demanding rum, a little dark but far from being bad.

I was expecting a very woody nose, a la Saint James. It is, but this 2008 vintage has much more to say. The sweetness of caramel, dark chocolate (not too bitter) and apricot is counterbalanced by darker notes of tobacco and woody tannins. On the palate, this sweetness is lost, and the rum plunges into a very woody, bitter mouthfeel. Tobacco again. Then a hint of caramel. A lovely rum, quite typical of what I know of St James.

This is a very dry rum and it's very obvious that it's been made in French oak.

Once again an excellent Agricole! In addition to a lot of wood, the grassy herbaceous flavors come out clearly here! The finish is quite long and intense... the high-proof Saint James have a new fan...so Agricole makes really fun

17th day in the Christmas calendar. Blind! Clearly Agricole, clearly Martinique, the rest is fine-tuning 😉 Nose: strong and spicy, yet fresh and fruity. The alcohol bites a little at the beginning. Clearly woody. But the grassy sugar cane is very clear. Dark fruit and lemon with blackberry, dry raisin. Somewhat smoky, tobacco, earthy, black pepper with a hint of vanilla, a little acidity, like red wine. Palate: spicy, sugar cane juice, slightly candied orange peel, sweet-grassy, hazelnut on the back, earthy, root, tobacco Hay, sugar cane and licorice on the finish. A wonderful representative of Martinique!

J'ai entendu et Lu des choses très différentes sur ce rhum. Et bien je dois dire que je me rangé dans le camp de ceux qui l'ont apprécié. C'est complexe, complet et franchement super bon. Oui l'alcool est présent, mais malgré sa puissance, ce rhum à un coté doux. Super jus.

I was excited to try a St. James with a really high ABV level, and I think the 'experiment' was a success. However, it needs some time to open up, but then beautiful spicy notes such as allspice, clove, vanilla, chocolate and grass appear. The palate is also pleasing, the alcohol is well integrated, with spices, wood and pepper. Hay and a roasted chocolate note on the finish.

What a rum! Complex, powerful and delicious

Promising nose with lots of finesse, cleaner palate with wood, sweet pepper, spice, caramel typical of Saint James. A very fine bottle.