Velier Skeldon SWR 1978 27yr 60,4%

RX867 Nearly perfect Column Still Rum 688 bottles Above 250€

9.5/1043 ratings

Community rating

“Intense and complex with deep woody flavors.”

The SWR (Skeldon) 1978 rum, produced in Guyana and bottled by Velier, is a revered offering among connoisseurs. Distilled using a Coffey still from molasses and aged for 27 years, this limited-edition rum features only 688 bottles. At a powerful 60.4% ABV, it boasts complex aromas of espresso, dark toasted notes, and prunes, while the palate reveals intense flavors of roasted licorice, tobacco, and barrel wood. It is well-regarded for its harmonious integration of flavors, with a long, dry finish reminiscent of aged cognac. Collectors and enthusiasts appreciate its deep, woody profile while noting its unique bitter coffee undertone. The rum is celebrated for its intricate tasting experience, making it a sought-after collectible in the aged rum category.

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Highlights

Complex and intense profile
Harmonious flavor integration
Long, dry finish

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How does this rum taste?

SWR 1978 rum offers espresso notes and intense roasted flavors, with hints of licorice and tobacco, praised for wood integration and long, dry finish.

Most frequently mentioned flavors

Aroma

Barrel Espresso Dark Toasted Prunes Glue

Taste

Barrel Roasted Intense Licorice Tobacco Chocolate

Finish

Espresso Woody Barrel Chocolate Roasted Coffee

Community reviews

9.5/1043 ratings

Community rating

Write a review

Jakob

29 April 2024

9.5/10

“Very complex without becoming unbalanced at any point. The wood note is particularly impressive, giving the rum a noble depth that borders on the bitter without overpowering the other notes. Heavy, dense consistency. Very nicely integrated alcohol. The only "fly in the ointment": Tasted blind, it doesn't stand out enough in comparison with other Skeldons for me to agree with the perfect score. However, this does not detract from its outstanding quality.”

Aroma

Glue Oak Raisin Chocolate Tobacco

Taste

Coffee Chocolate Butterscotch Barrel Oak

Giorgio Garotti

14 December 2022

9.9/10

“Over the years that I have been passionate about this distillate I have always dreamed of tasting this legendary rum!And today I too can be part of those people who have had the privilege of doing so!I don't know if perfection exists but this rum definitely is!Really intense in flavors and smells!You can perceive everything sharply!The finish is endless!Chapeu!”

Aroma

OrangePeal Espresso Cocoa Prunes Burnt sugar

Taste

Intense Delicious Cocoa Coffee Licorice

Photo of the rum SWR taken from user Giorgio Garotti

Galli33

11 March 2024

9.8/10

“WoW WoW!!! What a lovely present from my girlfriend❤️ One of the best birthdaypresent ever! Finally i could have a really really small taste of this legendary rum! All in all I would say a remarkable skeldon with all the classic facets (spiciness, dark chocolate, dried fruits, nuts, oak and a bit of licorice), a good complexity and a long last finish. Cheers to Mr. Gargano🥃”

Aroma

Barrel Glue Prunes OrangePeal Ester

Taste

Barrel Licorice Chocolate Woody Oak

Photo of the rum SWR taken from user Galli33

Mike H.

18 October 2023

9.4/10

“94 points. I’m extremely happy to cross this one of my bucket list.”

Aroma

Dark Barrel Espresso Glue Vanilla

Taste

Barrel Licorice Chocolate Intense Caramel

Photo of the rum SWR taken from user Mike H.

Artur Schönhütte

2 February 2024

9.8/10

“Review #1000 on RumX. What a Dram. This is a very complex Rum that changed it's nose several times. This really has the whiff of Cognacs around 1900. Very woody withouth being unnecessary bitte. floral and slightly spicy notes. Some herbs that have been cooked together with stuff(Nutmeg) burned molasses and backed sour plums. After a while it gets a really careful fruitiness with a hint of cotton candy or old Ice-Wine. Also this chalky dusty dryness. Always in a complex melange of things. Truly great. The Palate hits you initially with the sour plums and taste of jammy fruits, peach and grape. There is old wood and a bitterness like brazil nuts. All in a bundle with burned molasses. The alcohol is integrated to perfection and just slightly warm when neeeded. It is adstringent, but withouth being wood-soupy. In the back of the throat is the slight sweet floral hint of old cognac/armagnac of centuries past. It finishes extremely long and warm with a complex spicyness and really dry wood notes. Eternaly dry bitterness that really never overpowers. At the very and that brazil nut bitterness gets hint of artichoke bitterness and a little sensation of eucalyptus, unsweet dried plums and a savoury coating around your mouth. Let's not talk about the question of price, since this is a dimension which in 2024 has only to some degree to do with the content. This 98 is the best scoring I have given a Rum to date. I feel like this is as close as perfection could get to a demerara Rum that actually exists. It bears no flaws and an overall superb, complex and pleasant tasting experience. I am glad i shared this sample with a dear friend, because that is what made the experience a 100/100.”

Aroma

Cognac Woody Burnt Floral Baking spices

Taste

Plum Peaches Woody Bitter Burnt

Photo of the rum SWR taken from user Artur Schönhütte

Oliver

4 December 2021

8.7/10

“An experience to have this drop in the glass. Dark, burnt, intense - a very own profile! For me, however, far from the perfect 100 points.”

Aroma

Barrel Dark Ester Clove Vanilla

Taste

Barrel Roasted Licorice Intense Papaya

Kevin Sorensen 🇩🇰

4 February 2024

9.8/10

“15.06.2012 Lanternen, Kolding Celebrating a friend's birthday in this bygone bar. Notes Very dark in colour. Nose Balanced, fruity, licorice, herbs, wood, roasted, earthy, light olive. Palate Balanced, complex, oily, wood, roasted, fruity, berries, licorice, light grass, faint nutts, herbs, light plum. Finish Very long, wood, roasted, complex, dried fruits, coffee, medicinal, light mint.”

Christoph H.

4 April 2022

9.5/10

“With much awe and respect one approaches this bottling, given price and reputation.Unfortunately, I did not write a commentary at the time of tasting and must report something from memory. The nose was brute and takes one to Olympus in terms of tropical aged Demerara Rum. Incredibly intense, complex and deep. Lots of stickiness, dried fruit, strong molasses, spice, tobacco...... Almost slays you, as there's hardly any alcohol perceptible either. In the mouth the whole thing repeats itself, however, it is already noticeably overlaid there for me.As impressed as I was, it is not a 100 point rum for me despite everything. Too crass and special is for me, so I would need something like that maybe only 2-3 times a year.Impressive experience!”

Aroma

Plum Overripe Dried dates Prunes Raisin

Pavel Spacek

14 March 2023

9.7/10

“This is the rum I would like to drink every day. Nuts, wood, round ...”

Photo of the rum SWR taken from user Pavel Spacek

Johannes

17 April 2021

10.0/10

“Compared to the Skeldon73 less bitterness, but more fruity glue note. It doesn't get any better than this! Incredibly round, complex, incredibly long finish...”

Aroma

Barrel Caramel Ester Dark Clove

Taste

Barrel Caramel Clove Chocolate

CHM

11 September 2021

9.1/10

“In my personal opinion, this rum is very good, also has its own undisputed profile, but I would have expected something more based on the ratings. I was allowed to double blind taste it twice now, without knowing which spirit is in the glass at all. There are better rums for my taste. Nevertheless, a very good bottling.”

Rum Freund

31 December 2021

9.8/10

“Simply legendary stuff!”

Émile Shevek

31 March 2023

9.1/10

“The nose is full-bodied, pungent and enveloping, with notes of roast, wood, tobacco, leather, vanilla, coffee, burnt sugar, some glue and ripe plums.The palate is explosive and intense with dirty notes of rubber/leather, roast, tobacco, roasted barrel, intense carnation(unfortunately), cumin, bitter cocoa and premature plums.Endless and rich finish, leaves the mouth kneaded. A unique and special taste, perfect abv, demonstrates 10 degrees less, but a bit edgy roundness.In a way it reminds a bit of a Caroni, I expected more sweetness. By letting it rest for a long time the carnation/cumin tends to cover the rest a bit and becomes dominant. In the empty glass carnation, leather, roasted. Unfortunately, I do not like spices like carnation in general. Sorry if the rating is low.”

Photo of the rum SWR taken from user Émile Shevek

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What are the key facts about this rum?

Country
Guyana

Distillery
Skeldon

Bottler
Velier

RumX ID
RX867

ABV
60,4%

Category
Column Still Rum

Vintage
1978

Mark
SWR

Made from
Molasses

Distillation
Coffey Still

Age
27 years

No. of bottles
688

Bottle volume
70cl

Price range
Above 250€

Type of spirit
Rum

What is the price trend for this rum?

21,525 €

Ø Market value

Community purchase statistics

The RumX community has already added 18 bottles to their collections:

closed

opened

emptied

11%

Open rate

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