Saint James Reserve Privee 12-Year

Beautiful amber color with clingy legs, running slowly down the glass, after a swirl. The nose is very fruity with ripe, black grapes and prunes, a hint of dark chocolate and a slightly rubbery character. Love it. Reminds me a bit of red wine. Sipping it, I pick up grassy notes of grapes, chocolate and a bit of roasted coffee beans and oak. A very fresh and "juicy" taste. The dryness on the finish is gentler then most french rum, and I find this a very good introduction to agricole.

A very good agricole, full of flavor and smooth, easy to sip and makes a great punch vieux.

Sweet, soft and aromatic on the nose. The palate is first slightly alcoholic, then gets better with notes of coconut, peat and the typical grassy of an Agricole. Long finish. The price of 65€ seems to me too high.

Tested it together with the 15yo and I think I like this better because the oaky taste is more balanced in this one.
It’s a great Agricole that’s very smooth and well balanced. You can feel grassy and fruity notes.
Picture: My Saint James shelf.

Having 43% of alcohol the rum stands out of the line for the first time. The rum is light brown, the aroma when nosing being dominated plums and roasted coffee plus for me an unidentified fresh grassy aroma, sending my thoughts somewhere in the sugarcane fields. On the lips is then slightly aggressive, then smooth with a pleasant throat.

After tasting another agricole rums the same day, I came to the understanding that the strange grassy aroma is typical for all agricole rums, and thus these rums found a way into my rum-heart.

C'est un de mes rhums favoris: j'adore les notes de fruits secs!

Les bouteilles ne ressemblent plus à celle de la photo; ce sont des bouteilles transparentes semblables au 7 ou 15 ans d'âge.

Rhum possédant une très bonne balance arômes/ puissance. Le rapport qualité- prix est très intéressant. A recommander pour ceux voulant aborder les rhums vieux pour la première fois.

More English style than agricole, vernish ? But it's very well flavoured and balanced - a bit soft or light for me to be a keeper. Price are very good anyway

The oaky taste is so good . Quiet expensive but definitely worth it !

My second agricole. A rich bouquet of aromas. Mild, rich flavor, but noticeable alcohol. Pleasantly sweet. I will try more agricole.