Saint James Quintessence 6-Year

My heart will weep when this bottle is gone. My bottle is currently half full (or half empty, depending on your outlook on life). Seeing as it retails for over a 100 euro's, I won't be able to replace it quickly. Saint James Quintessence is truly a great spirit. I like rhum agricole in general - I don't have much of a sweet tooth - but they can get a little heavy on the grassy-leavy-horsemanury-side. This rum is generally quite dry, though there is an initial subtle wave of vanilla-butterscotch-sweetness. There is a little burn, enough to get me excited (I don't like my rum too smooth), not enough to put me off. In the aroma I smell vintage books, old museums and tapestries, and a grand stable with prize horses, greased leather sadles, wood, hay and manure, but it has a mineral quality as well, evoking an image of boulders in a mountain stream next to a meadow. The finish is loooooong, longest I've ever experienced. And very dry, almost like a brut champagne. A little sour, like a granny smith apple, but not at all unpleasant. Some dark, bitter chocolate, oak, burnt coffee and orange peel in there as well. When it's all gone a slight butteryness lingers in the mouth, though my tongue feels dry. The bottle is very regal and french looking with a huge cork, very Napoleonesque, and this rum definitely shares some flavours with other typically french drinks like cognac, calvados and pastis, although I am not at all an expert on those. All in all: if you are into rhum agricole, or rums that are not too sweet in general, pick this one up when you get a chance.

The sugar cane is present with hint of vanilla, honey, brown sugar. Wooded side and the typical flavors of agricole rum. A lot of complexity and develop in the mouth several waves coming aromas of fruit and spices while remaining on the plant. Very long aftertaste. Waiting two years to taste it but not disappointed. Rate = 8,5

A true rhum agricole, excelent aftertaste, elegant and sublime. Fantastic flavour.

I was waiting for this moment since a long time. I'm now reconciliated with agricole rums. I have to say that my first experience was the St James Cuvée 1765. This was clearly not a good idea but now it is a totally other story with the Quintessence. I have really enjoyed tasting this one ! :-)

Ce rhum est dominé par des arômes doux et fruités de figue et de datte séchée. En bouche, les saveurs classiques d'un vieux rhum avec des notes de café torréfié et d'épices. L'usage du terme classique pour évoquer un prix trop élevé à mon goût pour ce mélange de 6 cuvées.

You taste immediately the saint james quality. Very good not too strong. Expensif but worth every sip.

Smooth, a bit smoky in the nose and on the tongue. But also prunes and coffee.Very nice and long aftertaste of toffee. Like every Agricole: not sweet. One of my all-time favourites

Opravdu neuvěřitelně jemný rum. Chuť švestek, datlí.

D'une élégance et d'une finesse sans pareille dans l'univers des rhum traditionnel ( agricole ), la Quintessence est un petit bijoux.

Une succession de goûts nous éclatent en bouches les uns à la suite des autres.

Cacao en entré, pelure d'orange suivie de noix, et pour finir une descente chaude et longue qui nous laisse un goût de vanille sur tout le palais. ( et la gorge bien chaude )

Une grand parmis les grand.

Top 3 à vie.

To start I'll specifie that I am not a big fan of agricultural rum . My tastes are much more towards the sweeter molasses rum, with flavors of vanilla and smoothness in the mouth. Agricultural rums are much more raw and dry , this one is no exception , but still of high quality . The palate is full-bodied and the sugar cane flavor is shown from beginning to end , the aromas are near the base product, the plant, but it has a complexity that goes from tobacco flavor to cocoa. In the end, it leaves a long and tannic taste. Novices will find agricultural rum '' weird '' compared to industrial rum , very remote in terms of flavor in the mouth (dry , strong, less tasty , less balanced ), but the quintessence of Saint- James is a good starting point to soften the taste gap, even if this one is more complex than others I 've tried.

Pour commencer je vais spécifié que je ne suis pas un grand amateur de rhum agricole. Mes goûts sont beaucoup plus vers la ''sweetness'' de la mélasse, les arômes de vanilles et la douceur en bouche, ils sont plus soyeux. Les rhums agricoles sont beaucoup plus ''raw'' et sec, celui ci ne fait pas exception, mais il reste d'une grande qualité. En bouche, il est corsé et la canne à sucre est en évidence du début à la fin, les arômes sont plus végétales et près du produit de base, mais il a une complexité qui va de l’arôme du tabac jusqu'au cacao. En final, il laisse un goût tannique et long. Les néophytes trouveront les rhums agricoles ''bizarre'' comparé au rhum industriel, très distant en terme d’arôme en bouche (sec, fort, moins goûteux, moins balancé), mais le Quintessence de Saint-James est un bon point de départ pour adoucir cet écart gustatif qui même si présent est plus complexe que d'autres que j'ai essayé.