Aroma visualization from community tastings
Velier The Antigua Distillery Heavy Traditional Rum 2012
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Vanilla, coconut and burnt caramel lead, wrapped in toasted wood and warm spice — several tasters swear this reads like a good Foursquare, which tells you the register: dry, rounded, classic Barbados-style. At 66% it's got real power, but the alcohol sits so well integrated most people can't believe the proof. A few drops of water open the fruit further. Young for how polished it drinks.
The community says- Integrated alcohol
- Long woody finish
- Keep in mind: Dry and spirit-forward
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Offers & prices
No shop currently delivers to Germany.
Auction results: 131–158 € (32 sales in 24 months, incl. buyer's premium, latest 07/2026). How the range is built ›
Buying advice
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The look inside the bottle
How does Velier The Antigua Distillery Heavy Traditional Rum 2012 taste?
From community reviews · summarized with AI
Powerful yet rounded, Foursquare-style Antigua Near-universally loved here — a full-proof rum that drinks remarkably rounded for its age, with the heat tucked in tight. If you want funk or Jamaican esters, look elsewhere.
Aroma profileFoursquare fans wanting cask-strength power
funk chasers or anyone put off by high proof
Style & occasion: Sipping neat
Full aroma profile Aroma families · nose & palate · top aromas
Relative to this rum's strongest aroma family
68 of 148 left detailed tasting impressions · Click an aroma to explore similar rums
Which glass for which rum? The community guide ›
What does the community say?
148 community reviews
Rating scale & review checks
On RumX, 7 means “Good” and 8 means “Very good”.
See the full rating guideHow ratings are made and how we check them ›The website shows a selection of written reviews. The distribution also includes ratings without text. All published reviews are available in the RumX app.
48 selected written reviews
The distribution above includes all 148 ratings, including those without text.
Review by crazyforgoodbooze
Most helpful positive review
#bottlekill 🥲 Extremely smooth rum for such a young age and high alcohol strength. A blast. Still for me one of the best great value cask strength rums on the market. ❤️🙏🇦🇬 Compared to the new English Harbour Straight From the Cask, this one is a bit ahead because it offers clearly more aromas and I like it overall even better, more fruit, more power, and more complexity.💥 My absolute #1 Antigua rum! Too bad I didn’t buy a whole case back then for the ridiculous RRP of ~60€. Just delicious!
Review by Schnubbii
Most helpful mixed review
I like it a bit better than RX12782, but it still tastes too thin and unremarkable for me.
Review by Stefan Persson
This is unmistakably an English Harbour. The taste is quite much like the 5yo, but with much longer and stronger finish. My feeling is that it tastes very much like an genuine and typical rum a little from the past.
Review by Maxence
Very sweet and round profile with coconut, almonds, pastries, vanilla and a very good alcohol integration. Impressive quality / (release) price ratio. A must have 😋
Review by Mirko Frosini 🇮🇪
I don't like column-distilled rums because of the strong hint of vanilla and caramel that predominate over everything; this one has just the right blend. A good rum, but it doesn't fully convince me. Purchased at 55 euros, I absolutely would not buy it at a higher price. Unfortunately in the world of rums of a certain level there is too much speculation even on rums of dubious quality.
Review by Kevin Sorensen 🇩🇰
01.02.2025 Retasting at the "Nordlichter Treffen 2025". Lost a few points. --------------------------- Nose Light wood, caramel, berries, light currants, vanilla, light clove, lemon, light vegetal. Palate Light wood, light varnish, light vinegar (sour), caramel, light chocolate, light nutty, light banana, faint tobacco light vanilla, fruity. Finish Wood, light nutty, dried fruit, light berries, light vanilla, faint chocolate, light caramel.
Review by Joachim Guger
Full, warm and very good. Very balanced and quaffable. A full proof easy sipper if there is such a thing.
Review by Stefan L
Yummy 😋 - a Couple of years later since last tasting and this is really good. - 260524: Really long time since last time I tried it and it it still up there among the really good ones.
Review by Rodolphe
Nice discovery, a rich rum with a typical Barbados Foursquare profile featuring coconut, vanilla, nuts, and a nice concentration. In short, a beautiful rum that's very pleasant to drink. On the other hand, personal opinion, I'd rather buy something cheaper and easier to find to get the same thing in the glass.
Review by Timo Groeger
Wow and another really awesome one. My Antigua trip should be more than 10 years ago by now. But this rum is really top-notch, like a really good Foursquare. Vanilla and caramel are noticeable, but also a lot of coconut. Very tasty.
Review by Jarek
Simple but delicious. Coconut, caramel and sweetness in abundance. Plus enough power. Would love to try the single cask in comparison. Addendum: I've just shared a bottle of it in the forum and tasted the rum again when bottling. I still quite like it, but I find the alcohol a little too dominant in a freshly opened bottle.
Review by Boletus
Shortly before, I had tasted a Foursquare, and this Antigua rum absolutely hits the same notes. Toasted wood, lots of vanilla and coconut, as well as raisins and light tropical fruit hints. The alcohol is also very well integrated. A rounded and fine thing!
Review by Chrischi78
A particularly pleasing representative from Antigua. A great, rounded flavor profile with the typical, beautiful Antigua notes. Exceptionally smooth with well-integrated alcohol. Outstanding bottling from Antigua!
Review by F.L.O.
In the glass again after three years. In a blind tasting, I would probably guess Foursquare. Very nice nutty and vanilla aromas on the nose and on the tongue. The alcohol is very well integrated. But I no longer share the enthusiasm I had back then. Great rum, but not a unicorn.
Review by zabo
At first, I was a bit reserved. Fresh from the sample, it already feels quite alcoholic. But after a while, that settles down. With these coconut notes, it reminds me of a Foursquare. Positive surprise.
Review by TheRhumhoe
The raw expression of an Antigua rum. The nose is very indulgent between spices (vanilla, cinnamon) and pastry notes (crème brûlée, caramel, brown sugar). The fruity side (orange, coconut, plum) gives a certain power felt in the nostrils. It is both beautifully soft and intriguingly wild. The attack on the palate is quite beastly; here you feel a sharp and biting molasses rum. The spices (especially chili) are supported by alcoholic warmth and intense woodiness. Despite the coconut, chocolate, and caramel, it remains a dry and structured profile. The alcohol could be a little better integrated, even after aeration. The finish is very long and retains a certain heaviness and astringency. We find very marked spicy notes, chocolate, wood, leather, plenty of pastry notes on molasses, caramel, and brown sugar, as well as roasted notes of coconut and dried fruits. A wild rum from one of the most promising terroirs.
Review by Tim
I like the nose a bit more than the two English Harbour High Congener Series, as it simply smells more like sweets and fruits. Well balanced, but rather spicy and sharp in the mouth. Finish very woody and also spicy, here the fruits seem a bit too little to me. Otherwise a solid overall package.
Review by mto75
Tasted together with the English Harbour High Congener. First impression on the nose: the Velier has a bit more of everything, more toffee, more spice, more chocolate... on the palate, the High Congener is a bit edgier, the Velier is overall rounder... to be fair, one must also acknowledge that the differences on the nose and palate are not so pronounced as to justify the significant price difference.
Review by Morgan Garet
Pleasant nose but very disappointed by this tasting given the feedback I had...
Review by Florent Apl
Online tasting with Rum Explorer, Matt Pietrek and Mitch Wilson tonight! Alcohol comes out a bit sharp out of that one, then follows caramel, vanilla and coconut. On the palate the alcohol is more gentle, it has a very nice amount of vanilla, then coconut. It's a very nice rum, even if quite classic in profile.
Review by w00tAN
Northern Lights Meeting 2025: Takes a bit to open up on the nose, then caramel & vanilla but also fruit. Overall rather restrained. On the palate then strong, first fruity then caramel and nuts take over. Quite dry with a medium-long chocolate finish.
Review by Godspeed
Love it. High quality rum with lots of character, complexity, and fullness of flavor. One of those rums where every sip is exciting as you discover something a little new each time. Very very good. Shame that the prices have run away completely from this one.
Review by cigares
Day 14 of the Samples de Luxe calendar. A relaxed nose with a little bit of Jamaica and lots of Demerara, with smoky wood, leather, and bitter vegetal notes. The palate is soft and lively. It reminds me of the inside of a plantation lounge. The finish is medium length with bitter vegetal notes and smoky wood. I didn’t dare to bet on a Demerara; I thought it was older and the alcohol seemed less strong to me.
Review by kondgab
Surprisingly refined for its young age, this rum offers a long, satisfying finish with rich layers of vanilla, caramel, toffee, warm spices, coconut, and subtle hints of oak, toasted wood, and sweetness.
Review by Benoit Mahe
An original and very tasty product with a very attractive quality ratio.
Review by Jussi Piirainen
Black Parrot bar in London has the biggest rum collection in the UK. Friendly advice, always ask the price before so they wont overcharge you. Nose: Burnt sugar, vanilla, caramel, coconut,light roasted notes and light woody notes. Taste: Woody, vanilla, Coconut, light caramel, light nutmeg and nutty notes. Intense. You get dark chocolate notes when you hold the rum in your mouth. Abv could be integrated slightly better. Finish: Intense. Caramel, roasted/toasted nutty notes and light coconut. Coffee and dark chocolate as the rum opens up. Medium-long finish. Very good rum from Antigua. My only critique was that the abv could have integrated better.
Review by Thunderbird
Needs time in the glass Nose: Initially fresh and fruity, later gently reminiscent of candy Palate: at first bitter-woody, then dried plum with residual sweetness! Alcohol very well integrated. The finish continues the flavor experience! But noticeably drier A good rum
Review by Maxime Clr 🇫🇷
Magnificent nose, powerful palate! I love this bottle which is very indulgent. Vanilla, caramel, coconut, chili intertwine.
Review by Jason Tack
This is one of my benchmark ‘go to’ drinking rums! Well rounded, still remarkably well priced and amazing value for money compared to others on the market at current! It has some stunning traits of a dirty Caroni rum (glue and dirty/solvent like notes) but the other ‘fresher’ notes are far more prominent. The alcohol burn is quite forceful upon the first sip however this develops into lots of vanilla and an almost ‘Jaffa Cake’ like flavour when the young woody notes and orange notes combine... love it and always keep a bottle spare in the rum cellar, even if it doesn’t hang around long!
Review by Wernie
The nose sends me to Barbados, with lots of vanilla and caramel - I like it. On the mouth then lots of spice and wood, intense, powerful, the proof can't really hide ;-). Followed by a long finish, again with lots of wood, spice and salted caramel. Reminds me a bit of that Ritter Sport with salted almonds. All in all a fine rum, heavy and intense and not for every day.
Review by Henry Davies
Long and somewhat dry finish with an element of tobacco and sugar. Some pepper and spice with a bit of heft in the mouth given the ABV. It’s fairly young and intense but overall a great rum and something a little different
Review by Harald
Tried on two different days. What a blast, what a fantastic rum. My wife didn't want to give the glass with the sample back. Color: Golden amber Nose: Wow, it smells delicious. Intense, round and sweet with ripe tropical fruits, molasses with a huge portion of fudge (vanilla caramel toffee). The alcohol is well integrated. Taste: Wow again! Incredibly tasty. Initially sweet on the palate, then the high alcohol content takes over. When swallowing, very strong, full-bodied, sweet, alcoholic and spicy aromatic with flavors of molasses, fudge (vanilla, caramel, toffee), sandalwood, cinnamon, ripe tropical fruits (papaya) and dried dates. Finish: Long, warms from deep inside. Remains sweet and always pleasant. The flavors from the taste last a long time.
Review by Filip Šikula
A lot of coconut and vanilla on the nose. On the sip, a very sweet profile with caramel and vanilla awaits. Incredibly perfectly integrated alcohol, I would never guess 66 ABV, although it still warms beautifully for a long time after sipping.
Review by julie
Another well rounded Antiguan rum. Despite the high abv the alcohol is nicely integrated. The nose has banana, pastries and vanilla with a flair of coconut. Taste is really quite sweet in my opinion but the spices smooth it out. Seeing the rrp back at the time it was a total steal. Unfortunately only discovered this one now.
Review by lars
I like it without as well, but it can also handle a few drops of water.
Review by Nya Vinz
A gem. Even Luca Gargano talks about it with emotion. A great bottle with a real story.
Review by Anonymer Lemur
Opens up in phases, somewhat hard to access
Review by Rhum Mirror 🇧🇪
🔥 Velier The Antigua Distillery 2012 Heavy – 66% In 2017, Luca Gargano found this gem at Antigua Distillery. A breakdown of the Coffey Still column extended the fermentation, greatly increasing the congeners. Result? A powerful and tasty rum. Yet, this tasting convinced me less than at the time... End of bottle oxidized? No palate? No palate? To ponder...
Review by Daniel
Conclusion: much more intense and complex on the nose than the younger 46% brothers. Dry on the palate, very woody & spicy, peppery and intense with a long finish.
Review by And a bottle of rum
Extremely pleasant rum considering its young age! It's intense, unruly, sweet-alcoholic, aggressive. I have the impression that this is how rum loaded into the tight, dark, and deeply hidden holds of galleons, line ships, and smaller Royal Navy brigs might have tasted. The rum transports us to vast tropical beaches lined with tall coconut palms bathed in relentless equatorial sun. The tides of the warm Caribbean sea wet the golden-white, soft sand, and a pleasant tropical breeze brings scents of salt and wet wood. The rum is strongly alcoholic, yet nutty, honey-sweet, with dominant coconut, ripe banana, tropical wood, nutmeg, and dark chocolate with a pinch of salt. Extremely pleasant, though not an easy rum. It brings a lot of freshness, tropical wind, and times gone by to the tasting.
Review by Sylvain44
The alcohol is well present, well controlled, and lively. Toasted note.
Review by Johan Larsson
Very potent. Loads of flavours. Finished the bottle. Lovely
Review by Happy Oner
Full wreaths, heavy rum, I wouldn't guess column still. Amazingly integrated alcohol.
Review by Filip Heimerle
Great rum, smooth and vanilla. Slightly woody but excellently composed abv.
Review by Martin Švojgr
krásně integrovaný alkohol, jemné sladké, příjemné
Review by Mou Jm
Very atypical rum, leaning towards Foursquare
Review by Kieron Wood
This is an incredible woody rum ... It's delicious and heavy which I didn't initialy expect from the nose ... Fantastic rum
Review by Richard Krupa
Pecka. Vsechny ostatni englishe se muzou jit zahrabat. Mnam. Dlouhej prijemnej zaver. Jeste jednou mnam.
This selection contains no written reviews in this rating range.
Expert reviews
4 critics scored it, averaging 8.4/10. Reviews from RumX's blog partners, independent experts who have tasted, evaluated, and described this rum.
Expert review by Préférence Rhum
Read full review ›Interesting but not unforgettable. Sold at a low price at release, it wasn't worth much more.
Expert review by The Fat Rum Pirate
Read full review ›A better fit however due to the slightlier spicier profile might be Sunset Rum from Saint Vincent. In particular their Captain Bligh XO . Which I really enjoyed a few years back This was a great rum at a great price. Apologies for not reviewing sooner!
Expert review by Single Cask Rum
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Expert review by The Secret Rum Bar
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Expert review by Barrel Aged Thoughts
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Expert review by L'amateur éclairé
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Velier The Antigua Distillery Heavy Traditional Rum 2012 at live auctions
A bid is not a final price: the house sets the buyer's premium, shipping and any customs duty.
All live auctions ›Community shelf
412 bottles logged by 264 collectors.
Both drunk and collected.
20% opened, 27 emptied.
What did the community pay for Velier The Antigua Distillery Heavy Traditional Rum 2012?
Community paid 50–165 €.
Purchase prices reported by members, not a shop price. Avg. 136 €. Price history with 32 auction results in RX+ ›
412 purchased · 156 tasted · 54 wishlist · as of
Details about Velier The Antigua Distillery Heavy Traditional Rum 2012
A Column Still Rum from Antigua, bottled by Velier, at 66%.
About the The Antigua Distillery distillery
The The Antigua Distillery distillery is located in Antigua. Rums from The Antigua Distillery have been reviewed 1,407 times with an average of 7.9/10.
To The Antigua Distillery ›Read on in the RumX Guide
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