Nobilis No. 3 Rockley BBR 1986

The Nobilis Rockley in direct comparison to the Rendsburger... both top class rums... with a slight advantage for the Rendsburger... which is a little more present... Otherwise, they are very similar... it's a shame that something like this is no longer produced. The complexity is simply fantastic and the blend of smoke and honey flavors is unique.

A rum whose vintage is often considered a benchmark in the field, and it's easy to see why. The nose is very full and complex, with a multitude of flavors: exotic fruits, floral notes, aromatic herbs, tobacco, spices (ginger, licorice, anise, chili, vanilla, pepper), smoky wood, nuts, caramel, honey, chocolate and medicinal notes form an aromatic bouquet as special as it is detailed, deep and lively. The palate is very elegant and sophisticated. The rum is lively, rich in spices, aromatic herbs and floral notes that extend to honey. Wood, smoke, leather and chocolate follow the complex, fresh palate. Some medicinal and fruity notes lie in ambush on the tongue. The alcohol is very well integrated. The finish is long, dark, bitter, medicinal, woody and slightly herbaceous. There are also dried fruits, leather, spices and chocolate. For a profile of Barbados, this is an original, complete and accomplished rum, with remarkable and delicious flavors.

In direct comparison to the RA, SS and Plantation, it does not seem quite as intense and can not quite keep up with the top 3. Nevertheless, still a high, exceptional quality!

the RA 86 in comparison with the Nobilis 86. Both with that unique herbal, medicinal, floral, smoky-honey note on the nose. The Nobilis still has orange peel. The RA seems a bit more edgy or expressive, even though the Nobilis is slightly higher in ABV. On the palate, both toasted cask, grapefruit.

9:On the nose, the first impression we get is a bit estery with tropical fruits like pineapple, dried fig, hay and honey/honeycomb notes are strong, the rum is a bit smoky with roasted wood, a molasses brings licorice... On aeration, it becomes flowery, spicy and nutty, ripe mango cannot be overlooked.The rum is balanced and pleasant. 9:On the palate, the attack is sweet with honey, delicious with charred wood notes like praline, cream toffee, coffee, nuts, confectionery/pastry and smoky.Again we notice dried figs, sweet spice like vanilla, some anise and tropical fruits like mango.It is very creamy with buttery biscuits, the molasses is flowery, herbal and with tea, licorice.Some red bell peppers arise, bitter orange, when the rum is rested.Otherwise, very round and tasty. 8,8:The finish is long with spicy and dry wood, roasted with smoky, nutty notes.The molasses is vegetal, a bit bitter with waxes, then flowery, herbal and tea notes, licorice.Dried fruits like raisins and figs with banana pleasantly round up the finish..

This is one of the oldest rums I've had in the glass (thanks to saibotztar). The nose is already unusual with forest and buckwheat honey, ripe tropical fruit, vanilla, fig cake and less barrel-heavy than expected. The alcohol is absolutely unobtrusive on the nose. On the palate, a blast! Then aromas from the nose are joined by resin. The rum shows a very creamy mouthfeel and again the alcohol is at no time superficial. The finish is eternally long and also here I find all the flavors of the nose again, supplemented by a trace of oak / barrel. What a great rum!

Absolute grenade! Rockley in perfection! Honey, honeycomb, fig and rosemary, fully ripe mango. Incredibly beautiful viscosity, sweetly fruity and extremely complex. Like flaming a sprig of rosemary, dipping it in honey and eating dried mango with it. The finish is almost endless and the alcohol is perfectly integrated! Really, really good! For a perfect rating I would have to do a cross tasting with RA and silver seal...

My first 86 WIRD🎉 Wonderfully engaging perfumed profile. Very round, complex. Tea, honey, barrel, thyme, chocolate, smoky, coffee ice cream. Great balance, the rum takes you on a journey. Multi-layered and complex. Presents itself in all its diversity. Smooth, super smooth, yet powerful on the nose. It lingers and lingers and lingers. The finish is very long and complex. One of the best I have drunk so far

Oak and smoke all the way with a hint of fruit, spice and chocolate. I do like the licorice and smoky finish. Price to quality is not that good. There are other old Rockley's out there equally good or better and cheaper.

Rockley Tasting 1986/87/2000 Not quite as round as the RA. A little more beastly, bitter and less complex on the finish.

Insanely cool. Happy to finally be able to try this rum: Honey, honeycomb, beeswax in its purest form. Plus smoke, vanilla and a medicinal note. Awesome stuff and very slightly charred in the finish and the most beautiful honey toast

Great release. Typical notes of the 1986 Rockley profile, honey, tropical and citrus fruits, vanilla, roasted and smoky aromas, dark spices. In direct comparison with the other greats of the 1986wr vintage, there is a clear barrel impact on the palate, with a recognizable bitter note of wood, dark chocolate and some coffee on the finish. Not enough for the throne, but we are in the Rockley Champions League. Absolutely impressive quality, an excellent release.

Fair review. First of all, this is my first WIRD and it would probably be more appropriate to enjoy this rare bottling in peace. For me, it is not comparable to the bottlings I know from Barbados. The taste is absolutely unique and I am glad that I was able to try it.

Honey, smoke, medicine, herbal notes

Much more technical than RA, even on nose. Less fruity, much more glue on taste than RA