Aroma visualization from community tastings
Velier Damoiseau Full Proof 1980
The biggest surprise here is the heat: at 60.3% the alcohol is so well folded in that tasters keep saying they'd never guess it. This 1980 Damoiseau from Velier drinks dark and oily — prunes, leather, coffee, dark chocolate and old oak, with a faint grassy hint of its agricole roots. Tasters call it "rich, complex," and the finish goes on forever. A serious bottle, not a casual pour.
- Seamless alcohol integration
- Deep complexity
- Endless finish
+10
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How does Velier Damoiseau Full Proof 1980 taste?
Aggregated from 94 community reviews.
Dark, oily, complex cask-strength agricole legend Near-unanimous love. People describe it as dark, oily and concentrated, with prunes, coffee and oak over a remarkably integrated 60.3%. A couple find it slightly too bitter; otherwise it's adored.
Experienced drinkers who want dark, concentrated old cask-strength rum
Beginners and anyone after a light, easy everyday pour
How is Velier Damoiseau Full Proof 1980 rated?
RumX's 0–10 scale is strict , 9.2 lands squarely in the "Excellent" band. 100% of tasters rate it Good or better; only 0% rate it below average. See the full rating guide →
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Rum reviews
Selected write-ups from 94 community ratings. You can view the complete list in our app.
Based on 94 ratings
Review by Tschusikowsky
A comparison I've been looking forward to for a long time. The famous Velier bottling versus the direct bottling from Damoiseau. ABV of 60.3 is identical for both. Damoiseau is much darker in color. Damoiseau 1980 - direct bottling from the distillery Intense and dark on the nose, with plum, spicy wet wood, pome fruit, yellow fruit, vanilla and fine perfume notes of violets. There is also tropical fruit and a hint of cinnamon. The density and complexity are partly reminiscent of older Guyana bottlings, especially REV. The palate is warm, syrupy and oily with mint, some eucalyptus, cinnamon and plum again, accompanied by perfumed cedar wood. A firework of yellow fruits, apricot and chocolate. The long finish brings peach, chocolate and some apple, with a noticeable but pleasant tannin structure. Overall, an incredibly great rhum, sweeter and more syrupy than the Velier, with plenty to discover. Velier Damoiseau 1980 - Full Proof At the beginning, the alcohol is a little sharper on the nose, yet with beautiful plum and chocolate notes, combined with wet wood. With time, the rum opens up and brings more mango, passion fruit and tropical fruit fullness, plus pipe tobacco and a refreshing, tropical iced tea that takes you to Trinidad. Powerful but perfectly balanced on the palate, with notes of apricot, plum and an abundance of tropical fruit, underpinned by a very light association with cheese. The tannins are considerably lighter than in the direct bottling. The finish is very long and harmonious. Comparison Both rhums are at the highest level and offer enormous complexity and complexity that can be explored over the course of an entire evening. The direct bottling from Damoiseau comes across as an elegant, fruit-driven Guyana bottling with more sweetness, depth and tannin. The Velier bottling, on the other hand, shows its strengths in a tropical-fruity excellence, lighter in the tannins and with a brilliant balance. I would say in the end it is probably personal preference, there is no real winner for me. If I had to decide, Velier would be a tick ahead for me.
Review by Mirco
Absolute plank with impressive intensity and astonishing roundness at the same time. Fruit, spice, floral notes and wood are balanced and multi-layered. The alcohol is very well integrated and supports the powerful profile. I have stored the Damoiseau bottling in my memory almost identically - but a direct comparison is still pending.
Review by Galli33
You will smell a lot of lovely notes of leather, banana, pineapple, prunes, prunes… all of them you‘ll find in the mouth too. The alcohol and also the wood is integrated very well! The finish is long, dry with a dominant taste o mocha.. lie behind and enjoy! Update: After ca. 30 minutes of rest the rum open up completely. A bit more smell of the barrel, honey, cedar wood. It mouth there is less spice and more fruity/floral. There are so many different tastes 😍 Amazing experience. Unfortunately it’s to expensive now…
Review by Joachim Guger
On the nose, honey, vanilla, licorice, fused with a beautiful floral note.Really gets going in the mouth. Caramel, lots of wood, spices. Fat and oily.An epic finish follows...A great rum!
Review by Oliver
Concentrated, creamy, delicious. Exceptional!
Review by Jakob
Fantastic nose, complex spectrum that constantly offers new nuances, but at the same time has a recognizable punch. Opulent dark fruitiness, wood, spices, extreme depth. Excellent.
Review by Giorgio Garotti
The bottle that marked the transition to the decision to try to bottle more and more high grade rums! This damoiseau is an explosion of flavor! It is rich, intense and super concentrated! It literally sticks to your palate and you could taste it for hours! A gem given to you by this distillery!
Review by Serge
Again in blind tasting: still an absolute grenade with unearthly complexity and insane alcohol integration. Oh yes, really very tasty. It's amazing how concentrated it tastes. It's really worth sampling ... even if it's not the cheapest. A bit like a REV that speaks French.
Review by Kevin Sorensen 🇩🇰
The most amazing thing about this rum is how well they have integrated the ABV. You barely feel the ABV at all, wonder how they managed to do that :-) The nose is nice with fruit, oak and vanilla trailed by caramel, honey and nuts. I also get a very light note of grass. The palate extremely well balanced and complex. A very full bodied rum indeed. Fruit, oak and vanilla take the front trailed by caramel and honey. The finish is very long and intense with charred oak, spices, tobacco and dried fruit. A truly magnificent rum.
Review by Thunderbird
A rum with intense woodiness and fruit! Yet very balanced ... The alcohol is perfectly integrated.... A real pleasure!!!!!
Review by mto75
comes along almost oily, incredibly concentrated! On the nose, many spices, Maggi and nutmeg, also dried fruit, leather and wood barrel. The impression continues seamlessly on the palate, spices, dried fruit, toasty notes, mocha and clove on the finish. Guadeloupe at its best!
Review by tojo
An der Nase tolle Noten von getrockneten Früchten, Dörroflaume, hin zu würzig-holzigen Noten. Gepaart mit Honig, Vanille und einer rauchigen Note. Am Gaumen auch extraklasse. Hier noch stärker in Richtung Gewürze, Leder, Vanille und Lakritze. Ein echtes Highlight. Leider extrem rar und extrem teuer - Schade!
Review by Righrum
Simply, as of today, in my personal top 3 of rums I tried. Besides historical value (1st rum ever bottled full proof by Gargano,) this is an amazing rum, complexity and plenty of taste make this damoiseau almost perfect
Review by Beach-and-Rum 🏖️🌴
1980 ist schon mal eine Ansage. Bisher hatte ich noch nichts vergleichbares im Glas. Eine Mischung aus Zuckerrohrsaft und Melasse. Super cremig, ausgewogen und komplex. Man kann immer wieder neue Komponenten wahrnehmen. Der Abgang ist lang und warm. Ich finde ihn grossartig. Vielen Dank Jakob für das Sample. Update: großartiger Rum. Noch besser als in meiner Erinnerung. Es geht nochmal 2 Punkte nach oben.
Review by Leo Krüper
Slightly tamer and lighter compared to the original bottling. As a result, a little less volume and horniness.
Review by TheRhumhoe
Véritable légende parmi les rhums de Guadeloupe, ce Damoiseau embouteillé par Velier est une œuvre d’art. On tombe sur un nez démentiel qui exprime toute la complexité du jus. Le boisé se veut très noble, en accompagnement d’une farandole d’épices (vanille, muscade, cannelle, poivre, gingembre, réglisse) et des notes sombres très raffinées (chocolat noir, cacao, café, cuir, amande, tabac, notes rôties). Les fruits ne sont pas en reste : ananas, fruit de la passion, cassis, baies sauvages, fruits rouges, raisin sec et pruneau se relaient dans un profil lourd, complexe mais extrêmement élégant et rond. Le nez est bluffant, car il exulte la fraîcheur du menthol, de l’eucalyptus et des herbes aromatiques, mais il capte également toute la gourmandise de la canne à sucre, du caramel, du nougat, du toffee et du sucre brun. Un profil d’anthologie. En bouche, on retrouve un rhum lourd, complexe, qui tire sur le vieux cuir tanné, les notes sombres de cacao et de chocolat noir, de café et d’amande amère, rejointes par le tabac et le cigare. Les épices, toujours aussi abondantes, apportent de la vivacité au profil. Le boisé, très raffiné, est très bien fondu. Si on perd pas mal de notes fruitées, les fruits secs, raisin et pruneau en tête, continuent de sublimer le palais de leur délicatesse et de leur gourmandise. Des notes d’herbes aromatiques sur le thé noir et le menthol confèrent un peu de fraîcheur. L’alcool est intégré à la perfection. Un profil extrêmement varié, très riche et élégant qui ne peut que ravir les fans de rhum. La finale, extraordinaire de par sa longueur et sa finesse, est particulièrement intense, légèrement amère mais très délicate. Les saveurs en bouche collent au palais et laissent une trame sombre prospérer, à la fois sur le bois précieux, le chocolat noir, le café, le cuir, les fruits secs, les épices et des touches mielleuses de caramel qui se mêlent aux arômes plus floraux sur le thé noir et les herbes. Un rhum de prestige absolument divin, qui peut se considérer comme le nectar des Dieux de par sa profondeur, sa complexité et sa nature si distinguée.
Review by Johannes
Wow! Phantastischer Rum! Wunderbare Balance zwischen Holz und Frucht! Große Klasse!
Review by crazyforgoodbooze
Super exciting profile but a little too bitter for me personally. It's therefore not quite enough for a 9+ rating. But the profile with the concentrated dried plum, tobacco, leather and mocha is really extremely tasty and exciting!
Review by Thomas Wille
Hammer Stoff - gleiches Level wie der Damoiseau 1980 - außergewöhnlich gut
Review by zabo
Somehow my head was spinning last night from so many great things in the glass. I've never had so many "Excellent" awards as I did that evening. What an epic round of insanely great rums. Thank you Jakob.
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Details about Velier Damoiseau Full Proof 1980
A Column Still Rum from Guadeloupe, bottled by Velier, at 60,3%.
Community purchases
77 bottles logged by 60 collectors.
A collector's bottle.
15% opened, 4 emptied and repurchased.
What did the community pay for Velier Damoiseau Full Proof 1980?
Community paid €232–€851.
What members actually paid for their bottles. A typical range, not the current shop price. Full price & collection history in RX+ →
77 purchased · 96 tasted · 59 wishlist · as of
About the Damoiseau distillery
The Damoiseau distillery is located in Guadeloupe. Rums from Damoiseau have been reviewed 1,308 times with an average of 8.0/10.
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Velier Diamond <S> 1999
Velier Diamond <S> 1999Tasting noteHeavy, dark licorice-and-leather Demerara
Velier Diamond & Versailles SVSG 1996
Velier Diamond & Versailles SVSG 1996Tasting noteDark, heavy Demerara full of licorice and coffee
Gardel Rumclub Private Selection Ed. 16 Treasure Cask GMG 1983
Gardel Rumclub Private Selection Ed. 16 Treasure Cask GMG 1983Tasting noteGlorious nose, bitter wood-driven palate
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