Old Brothers Versailles 2003-2018 is a pure product of Demerara, a mythical region of Guyana named after the river that flows through it. The Diamond distillery is home to the oldest stills in the country. They have greatly contributed to the legend of English-style rums. Among these stills is one from the Versailles plantation. This is a pot-still with a vat made of Greenhart wood, a local species. The head and swan neck are made of copper. A small rectification column enables a single pass to be made.
This rum was distilled in 2003, then placed in old bourbon casks. It was then shipped to Europe, where it benefited from 15 years of maturation. This single cask was bottled brut de fût in 2018, without coloring or cold filtration. Only 349 bottles were produced.
Nico's tasting notes
The nose immediately sends us fruity, but also buttery signals. We imagine a smooth, thick rum that will stick to the palate. A few vegetal, even herbaceous, touches tickle our nostrils, to balance things out immediately.
Aeration brings out the vanilla side of the cask, which joins this softly buttery impression. Light fruit glides over the top, then is joined by a rather soft, velvety vegetal, reminiscent of sage. A few whiffs of roasted nuts add a little kick here and there, keeping the balance.
The palate is at once explosive and enveloping, as it coats the palate with a slight brusqueness. The rum takes on a texture that could be described as coppery, a little metallic, interspersing the different phases of tasting. From fruit to wood, then to spice, with a coppery curtain (reminiscent of cherry pit) separating them.
The finish is sticky and jammy, with a hint of smoky molasses.
" A rather complex rum of contrast, which offers an interesting tasting and is aimed at rather well-informed connoisseurs... "
Jean Luc Baladine
Surprising