Bristol Classic 1986 Barbados Rockley Still 26-Year

My version is the one with sherry finish. There is also the madeira finish, I don't know if someone mentioned it, but the rating pictures are different.

ABV: 46%
Age: 26
Distilled: 1986
Finish: Sherry (we don't know for how long, but it's not dominant)

The Nose reminds me a little bit of Last Ward 2009 and Savanna rum. There are many grains in the nose. Furthermore it has some common aromas from MG Rum. It's like a classic Savanna rum mixed with Barbados rum. Quite intensive nose for 46%, the sherry is not inflated.
Grains, wood and orange peels are my first impression. Some anise is also there, this indicates a complex rum for me.

The taste is quite complex. This one can compete with Velier Last Ward but of course not with this dilution.
First you get the grains as well as the wood with tanins and the bitter orange peels, some grasy notes are also always there. Mint spreads in my mouth the more I drink it. There is also light sweetness, but not caramel, it's more heavy like burned sugar (but not molasses).
In the middle the rum get's warm in the mouth. Now you get again the grains, the wood (but less tannins) and the orange peels. MG XO has more oranges in the taste, but no grains and anise (not that complex rum).
As soon as you swallow it you get the spice with grains, wood and orange (now without any tannins), some vanilla, some wet earthy barrel and anise.
The aftertaste is the best part, with orange peels, anise, mint, leather and grains. Damn tasty.
I think because of the dilution 88 points would be appropriate.

A beautiful high end rum, sadly there is almost nothing left on the market. But we still have the Velier Last Wards that goes in that direction. A complex rum, even for the price of 195€ (I got a sample) it has still a good value. To recreate it we could try to blend a MG XO with Savanna 14y.

Nose: grains, wood (pine), leather, grasy notes and herbs (rosemary), some honey
Taste: grains, leather, some burned sugar, wood with some tanins, orange peels, some floral notes, grasy notes/herbs
Middle: grains, leather, wood, orange peels with some tanins/wood (pine), herbs, mint
Finish: spice, grains, wood, orange, vanilla, some wet barrel, some anise
Aftertaste: orange peels, grains, anise, mint, wild leather

Sweetness: 2/5
Fruits: 3/5
Spice: 2/5
Mildness: 3.5/5
Complexity: 4/5
Value (195€): 3.5/5
Experience level: professional

A mahogany color that pulls towards the leather. The nose is woody with nuts but also candied fruits with prunes. There are notes of leather, tobacco and wax. Subtle notes of cocoa bean and rancid.
In the mouth, this rum is very sweet, it sticks well to the palate with always woody notes and also mineral or even saline. Very complex, superb rum that takes time to fully appreciate it.

The sherry finish may smoothen out the typical "Rockley still" pine-sap and tar a bit, as does the 26 years of sitting in a cask (earlier younger versions were more intense), but it also blends in some finesse and smoothness and rich wine tones. A fine bottling of a great Bajan Rum.