Le Vieux par Neisson 45°° (Old by Neisson 45°)

To mark the distillery's 85th anniversary, Neisson has revised its range and released this blend of vintages aged between 3 and 9 years, partly in French oak barrels, partly in American oak barrels that previously contained bourbon.

Nico's tasting notes

The first impression on the nose is metallic and coppery, with vegetal notes of curry and a hint of fermentation. Then the nose is invaded by dark, tannic fruits. Grape and plum skins come to the fore. Fruit tannins mingle with those of wood for a rigorous profile. Then the cane seems to blossom gently, before finally breaking through and pouring out its sweet juice. The tannins then melt into the golden liquid, allowing the house's famous nuts to express themselves. The nose remains lively, sustained by a hint of acidity and fine spices.
On aeration, the spices are mainly represented by pepper, more precisely that of a white agricultural rum. The wood tannins and nuts are powdery, grippy and fat at the same time, with an impression of peanut butter. Then there's something of a jammy, fleshy prune.

The mouthfeel is soft and velvety, with the typical flavors of an agricultural rum: cane, citrus and pepper. Although the initial impression is one of lightness, the spices heat up to a crescendo, as does the toasty woodiness. The cane and its vegetal flavors are candied and mellow, with the fruit in the background. The toasted aspect reveals a clean, mineral character, before the rum melts one last time into mellow tannins and plump nuts.

The finish sums up the whole tasting experience. It's moderately long and very smooth, with hints of nuts, especially peanuts.

"This aged rum reflects the identity of the Neisson house, demonstrating its art of taking advantage of all the flavors of wood..."