Aroma visualization from community tastings
Velier Isautier Hors d'âge Traditionnel 2005
Blind, most tasters swear this Réunion molasses rum is an old Demerara or a cask-strength Appleton — that tropical-aged oak, polish and molasses fools people. Expect dark chocolate, flambéed banana, prune, hazelnut and baking spice, with a warm woody depth. The one recurring gripe: at 65% the alcohol pokes through, and a few find it slightly bitter.
The community says- Rich dark chocolate
- Demerara-like depth
- But: Prominent alcohol
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The look inside the bottle
How does Velier Isautier Hors d'âge Traditionnel 2005 taste?
Aggregated from 75 community reviews.
Demerara-like tropical molasses rum, high-proof A big, tropically-aged sipper most tasters loved for its dark-fruit-and-oak depth and Demerara feel. The recurring catch: the 65% heat isn't always fully tucked away.
Fans of tropical-aged Demerara-style molasses rum
Those sensitive to high ABV
How the community classifies this rum. Each category takes you to similar rums.
Which glass for which rum? The community guide →
33 of 75 left detailed tasting impressions · Click an aroma to explore similar rums
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How is Velier Isautier Hors d'âge Traditionnel 2005 rated?
RumX’s 0–10 scale is strict: 8.7 sits in the “Very good” band. 100% of tasters rate it Good or better; only 0% rate it below average. See the full rating guide →
Community voices
What does the community say?
96% rate it 8 or higher. 20 selected write-ups from 75 community ratings. You can view the complete list in our app.
Review by crazyforgoodbooze
Gigantic. I would have blindly guessed a nice cask-strength Appleton. Incredibly cool notes of flambéed banana, honey, caramelized nuts, dark chocolate with sea salt and dried apricots, then a lot of barrel and a lot of tannins and very astringent on the finish. Also very intensely juicy sour blackberry, some lime, mocha, bitter molasses and dark chocolate with coffee nibs and sea salt. Clearly the winner compared to the Agricole. A great wine, but unfortunately a little too bitter overall!
Review by Alexander Rasch
Ein kräftiger intensiver Rum mit einem schönen Körper. 16 Jahre Tropisch sind merkbar. Viele klassische Rum Aromen kommen hier in einer perfekten Balance zusammen. Das macht richtig Spaß und ist richtig lecker. Ich habe aber auch, nach dem gewissen Extra, auf Grund der hohen Erwartungshaltung gesucht. Gefunden habe ich es noch nicht. Mir persönlich gefällt der 16y Agricole besser, da er eine etwas höhere Komplexität zeigt. Für mich den aktuellen Markt Preis nicht ganz wert. Da ist zu viel Velier Hype mit drinne.
Review by Frank
Both 16yo Isautier compared, molasses and Agricole. Both are super...Nose: intense and powerful, very spicy and fruity. A mix of blackcurrant and gooseberry along with orange and lime. In addition, fine vanilla, leather and tobacco. A hint of mint or menthol is in the background. Oh, and sick still a slightly sour vinegar note. This goes well with the impression of tart-sweet-sour molasses and maple syrup. Increased flavors of bourbon come at the end.Palate: 8.8Wow, totally intense, complex, powerful and really tasty. Very pleasantly spicy with nutmeg and licorice, but more so aromatic cedar. Very malty with yeast and nicely nutty with hazelnut. But toasted and creamy-fat to go with it. Again strong-sweet-sour molasses with caramel. Dried fruit, like apricot and plum with dark blackberry. Quite bacony on the finish. Brilliant. 9.0
Review by Christoph H.
Tasted for the first time in March this year, until then completely under the radar. The nose surprises and convinces, clear difference compared to the 15 year old.It dominates in comparison dark fruits, dried plum, raisins and dates, followed by coconut oil. No less dominant are solvents, furniture polish and a warm woodiness, which completely picks me up, as not too dominant. The Christmas spices are also there in this case by comparison, but are not as present and much more pleasantly integrated. Sweet notes like molasses, butterscotch and toffee are more dominant here. In the mouth it is unfortunately a bit too stormy, because alcohol is not ideally integrated.I find it outstanding and can only recommend it to every lover of tropically matured Demeraras.
Review by Jakob
Already on the nose with the aroma of polished oak, vanilla and caramel so often found in tropically aged Demerara rums - and the promise is maintained on the palate. The aforementioned notes are joined by pepper, chocolate, leather and subtle licorice. All in all, I only miss a bit of freshness to get the rating even higher. The quality, however, remains exceptional, very nice bottling.
Review by Schnubbii
An der Nase eine schöne Frucht, leicht parfümig. Am Gaumen ist die Frucht dann dick und voll, geht für mich in Richtung Pfirsich und Maracuja, dazu ein leichter Tictac Wintergreen Moment. Ist für mich recht nah an einem Savoir Faire ex Grays/Mauritius. Der Abgang ist mittellang. Sehr schöne Abfüllung, allerdings bekommt man ähnliche Qualität und Aromaprofil auch günstiger aus Mauritius von Grays.
Review by Kevin Sorensen 🇩🇰
#4009 This is a very nice Agricole release that Velier has gotten their hands on, wow. The price tag is pretty steep on this bottle and maybe its overpriced but it's stille a great rum. Fruity profile with nicely integrated wood and some roasted notes. The ABV is perfectly integrated. Needs to rest to release all of its goodness. In the empty glass I can pick up some nougat and chocolate.
Review by Tim
Bombastischer Rum mit harmonisch runder Nase und Mundgefühl, der stark an Foursquare oder Guyana erinnert. Schokolade, Karamell, tropische Früchte, Gewürze, Röstaromen, Holz. Eigentlich gibt es nichts zu meckern. Ausgesprochen gut, vor allem der Abgang ist sehr elegant. Habe mir nochmal ein 5cl Sample zugelegt, auch als Referenz für die hauseigenen Isautier-Abfüllungen.
Review by Joachim Guger
A wonderful deep, copper color.On the nose banana bread, fresh from the oven baked by my wife. Followed by polish. Warm, full, perfectly balanced, alcohol perfectly integrated, not very complex.In the mouth warm and dry.Long full finish with an artificial note.A very good rum to my taste.
Review by Serge
Very nice tropical matured rum with a fantastic nose. A good tick better than the younger 14 year old (15 on the bottle) bottling. Fans of polish will get their money's worth here. Just still a little bit on the palate if you are looking for flaws. Thanks Jarek for the surprise sample!
Review by Mentalo
Ich mag die ganze Velier Isautier Reihe sehr gerne. Diese Abfüllung hat erstklassig Gewürznoten, etwas fruchtig (Aprikose), schöne Röst- und Holznoten. Insgesamt gut ausbalanciert, nur der Alkohol könnte etwas besser integriert sein.
Review by Johannes
I love the tropical maturation! You can taste the ageing in this rum, it goes in the direction of the Velier Demerara. Amazing! Compared to the 2006 molasses RX16224, this one is almost worlds better, much more complexity.
Review by Thunderbird
The third in the bunch! My favorite ... it has that certain something that appeals to me! This heavy sweetness in combination with the spices and fruit! It harmonizes so well and is very intense on the palate. It just fits...very tasty
Review by Piotr Ignasiak
Surprisingly sippable despite the strength. Alcohol is very well integrated and feels like an old Demerara. Tropical aging leaves this with heavy oak and tannins, feels very leathery, in addition baking spices and some fruit.
Review by Leo Krüper
Mit diesen Isautiers von Velier kann man nichts falsch machen. Schmecken mir alle hervorragend und haben auch noch vertretbare Preise. Super Abfüllung zum entspannten sippen mit viel Vanille. Unglaublich rund.
Review by Tschusikowsky
Great fabric. I like it better than the agricole version. Deep and concentrated flavors, tropical woody, very good balance. Powerful, but the alcohol is well integrated. Reminds me a little of a Guyana rum.
Review by Joe95
A nice discovery at Isautier. A well-balanced rum, with very spicy, woody notes. The ripe tropical fruits and the pastry side. Both complex and delicious. A very long finish.
Review by Rene Pfeiffer
Intense, beautifully spicy and dark. If the alcohol wasn't so pronounced, I'd give it a 9. Unfortunately, I have to correct it down a little. But the result is a great rum.
Review by Basti
Pleases me better in direct comparison with the Isautier 16yr Agricole (Rx10631) both on the palate and nose. Very well integrated ABV and long finish. A delicious rum.
Review by Buddudharma
Great rum, but without the last quite certain something. In blind tasting impossible to identify. For me, therefore, somewhat behind the Agricole sister bottling.
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Expert reviews
Reviews from RumX's blog partners, independent experts who have tasted, evaluated, and described this rum..
Expert review by L'amateur éclairé
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Live auctions
Current bids for this rum at Europe's leading auction houses.
Market value
What this bottle last achieved at auction. A research indicator, not a forecast.
Auction results 162 € – 188 €
from 5 sales, latest 06/2025
Prices incl. buyer's premium — what a buyer pays, not what a sale nets you.
Avg. community purchase price 193 €
What members paid for this bottle, self-reported. Not a market value — the purchases are over three years old at the median and unverified.
Details about Velier Isautier Hors d'âge Traditionnel 2005
A Column Still Rum from Reunion, bottled by Velier, at 65%.
Community purchases
74 bottles logged by 63 collectors.
A collector's bottle.
13% opened, 5 emptied and repurchased.
What did the community pay for Velier Isautier Hors d'âge Traditionnel 2005?
Community paid 129–266 €.
What members actually paid for their bottles. A typical range, not the current shop price. Full price & collection history in RX+ →
74 purchased · 75 tasted · 33 wishlist · as of
Read on in the RumX Guide
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Oliver · FounderBy rum lovers, for rum lovers
I'm Oliver, and RumX began in 2018 as a small passion project in Stuttgart, back then under the name Rum Tasting Notes.
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