Post #712767 by AdOrAdam on Tue, Apr 1, 2014 2:57 PM

However, I recently got some Saint James Rhum Vieux so here's a review:

I'm (strangely) quite excited about this purchase - Although I was at first surprised, I subsequently enjoyed & have missed the taste of SJ Amber.

Also Hors D'age has been sold out in the UK for a while & import would have made it prohibitively expensive IMO. Sunny&Rummys statement that Rhum Vieux & Hors D'age are the same thing in the bottle picked up my interest again ~ the original $100 mai tai rum.

Price wise the SJ Rhum Vieux was £29.50 ($50) - that makes it not the cheapest agricole but near the lower end of the price list. For me that is in line with Appleton 12, El Dorado 12 (eg. it should be premium), but Im thinking agricoles just are a bit more expensive.

Drinking it neat... it's quite a 'full' taste which I like, the 'agricole' taste is quite present. It tastes like SJ Amber & Appleton 12 combo from earlier in this thread but is slightly more cohesive, like the 2 rums had been left together for a while. A burn is present but it smells great :) the burn thins a little with water & time.

I headed into mixing...

In a Donga Punch - this is an ok drink but not great. The SJ RV blends well & has a relatively short finish. In comparison to Clement VSOP, it is heavy - the Clement has preferable higher vinegary notes & has a longer finish.

In a Three Dots & a Dash with El Dorado 8 - this a great drink. However, its battle between Clement VSOP & LH151 with SJ RV & El Dorado 8 coming in a close second.

In a Mai Tai with Appleton 12 - this is a good drink. The same comments are applicable as with the Donga Punch (ie. SJRV has a short finish & is heavy) but that's not necessarily a bad thing. To my mind it sits between a mai tai with El Dorado 12 or Clement VSOP, all 3 are worth a try:

If I had tried SJ Rhum Vieux prior to the Clement VSOP, I would be thinking 'this is a great rhum... I just dont like Donga Punches'. If I subsequently got 'used' to it, Clement VSOP would be a worthy step up.

Overall, Saint James Rhum Vieux... is a good rhum IMO :)