Aroma visualization from community tastings
Velier Saint James Sélection exclusive Velier 2002
Built for people who love very old, very woody agricole and don't mind a challenge. Nearly everyone loves the nose — old sandalwood, vanilla powder, blood orange, dried fruit. Then the palate turns dry, tannic and sour, with a soapy note that splits the room hard. A few taste tropical mango and pineapple; others hit "Katzenurin" and give up. Polarizing 19-year Saint James.
The community says- Beautiful old nose
- Deep woody complexity
- But: Soapy palate
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The look inside the bottle
How does Velier Saint James Sélection exclusive Velier 2002 taste?
Aggregated from 60 community reviews.
Old, woody agricole with a divisive soapy palate Gorgeous nose, divisive palate. Most agree it's a beautiful old woody Martinique, but the soap and sharp sourness on the tongue push scores all over the place.
Fans of very old, dry, woody agricole who like leather, tannin and black tea
Anyone sensitive to soapy notes or sharp sourness
How the community classifies this rum. Each category takes you to similar rums.
Which glass for which rum? The community guide →
24 of 60 left detailed tasting impressions · Click an aroma to explore similar rums
Recommendation
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One difference each to this rum.
Rated better
Velier Saint James Sélection exclusive Velier 2000
8.2/10179 €
More intense
La Confrérie du Rhum Saint James Brut de fût 2003
8.7/10270 €
Similar rating, cheaper
Velier Distillerie Bethel Romelus Clairin Le Rocher 2019
7.9/1049 €First choice: 50 of 60 tasters who tried both prefer it.
How is Velier Saint James Sélection exclusive Velier 2002 rated?
RumX’s 0–10 scale is strict: 7.6 sits in the “Good” band. 70% 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?
68% rate it between 6 and 8. 18 selected write-ups from 60 community ratings. You can view the complete list in our app.
Review by Frank
Großes VSGB-Vertical-live-Tasting von und mit Luca Gargano. 22.19.2022, 16:56. Dieser hier soll mehr als 2000 congeners haben. Nase: vollmundig, ausgewogen, lecker. Angenehmes, altes Sandelholz mit altem Vanillepulver, sahniges Toffee mit Johannisbeere, Blutorange und Kirsche. Getrocknete Pflaume und Rumrosine geben etwas gedämpftere Töne. Hinten, aber hier nur leicht, etwas Seife und leicht Lakritz. Die leckerste Nase der 10. Gaumen: das Alter macht ihn leider bissig. Ordentlich Säure und Seife zu Beginn. Kommt einem trotzdem recht dünn vor. Die Säure geht ins Salzige über und dann zu Zitronenschale, bevor er holzig wird. Dann kommt auch Kardamom und etwas Harziges und Grasiges. Im Abgang harziges Holz und Gras. Nach noch längerem warten kommt Litchi hinzu. Platz: N: 1/10 G: 10/10
Review by Ayc
L’ovni complet de la vertical. A l’aveugle intégral au nez, on pourrait sûrement penser à un jamaïcain, c’est assez dingue… genre un long pond tropi sans le côté colle/vernis même si on a de léger ester. La mangue trop (vraiment) mûre devant tout le reste pour moi, mais c’est très fruité (-ananas trop mûre aussi, maracuja frippé), un côté presque fumé/faisandé qui me ferait presque de très loin (car beaucoup moins intense) penser au teca 2003. C’est fou d’avoir tout ça sur un agricole. Parfois sortie de nul part on retrouve rapidement ce boisé saint james, mais c’est probablement car je le sais. En tout cas le bois a mis une bonne 20aine de minutes à arriver. La texture est mouthfeeling, ça tapisse la langue (à la limite du savonneux mais toujours agréable) comme le reste de la série on reprochera toujours ce je ne sais quoi un peu flotteux/wattery, sur de si beaux profils c’est un peu frustrant. On retrouve malheureusement beaucoup moins les fruits du nez en bouche même si tout cela reste agréable. C’est extrêmement boisé, mais l’amertume des tanins reste relativement maitrisée. La finale est un peu fleuris sur la jasmin, poivré, amertume porté par du zeste d’orange sanguine.. C’est un rhum que j’adore pour l’expérience qu’il propose, mais ce n’est ni un exemple d’équilibre, ni d’élégance bien au contraire.
Review by Jakob
In direct comparison with the other vintages of the series on the nose more discreet fruit, but more spices and herbal notes. Again, slight waxy-soapy hints. Then very acidic and bitter on the palate, my primary associations are citrus and dark chocolate. The soap notes also remain perceptible, but remain in the background. Still does not meet my taste, as the acidity is too extreme for my taste. In my opinion, there are clearly better Saint James releases from 2002 - e.g. the Corman Collins.
Review by zabo
Franconian Tasting Gang on 10.05.2024 First of all, a big thank you to DomM for providing this set. Personally, I didn't like the profile. With one exception, this soap flavor is too much for me. But thanks to DomM and Serge, the leftovers from the glasses ended up in a spontaneous and outstanding cocktail.
Review by Jarek
Franconian Rum Tasting Gang, 2024-05-10, Saint James 25 AOC Anniversaire (danke an Dom): 2002er ist eine der älteren Abfüllungen der Reihe kann aber mit dem 1998er und 2000er nicht mithalten, was für mich nicht so sehr an der Note von Katzenurin in der Nase liegt, sondern an der sehr störenden Note von Seife am Gaumen.
Review by Joachim Guger
Die Nase gefällt mir sehr gut. Perfekt ausbalanciert, ohne das eine Komponente heraussticht. Holzig, schwer, getrocknete Früchte. Ein Hauch Blume. Im Mund sehr kräftig und knusprig, hier kommt nun wieder die Seife zum Vorschein. Im Gegensatz zu den jüngeren Vintages kann hier gerade noch dagegengehalten werden. Sehr guter, gediegener Saint James mit Schönheitsfehler.
Review by Palo - V Poháriku
This vintage honestly didn't really fit my preferences. In my humble personal point of view, it feels a bit weaker even than the younger vintages from this release. Yes, it's got some nice flavours, but I am not a fan of the strong sourness on the palate. Still think it is a good piece worth having a sip of.
Review by Serge
Parallel tasting of the Velier Saint James range in the Franconian Tasting Gang. Thanks Dom for teasing me 👌 All in all, the set is not outstandingly good for me, but rather average with a few outliers at the top and bottom. Short summary by vintages: 2015 & 2014 were rather unpleasant for me. 2010 & 2012 better but still nothing I would want to drink again. 2008 & 2006 & 2004 were much better and more interesting. 2002 then a total failure again (cat piss that develops into multivitamin tablets and doesn't go with the wood at all). 2000 was good again and 1998 was the best of the set for me.
Review by Alex Kunath
Ungewöhnliche aber sehr starke Nase mit wirklich interessanten Noten aber am Gaumen aufgrund dieser merkwürdigen Seifengeschmacks zum Teil schon ekelhaft.
Review by Johannes
The nose is really good, in complete contrast to the palate. A soapy off-note dominates here, which I find really unpleasant.
Review by Kevin Sorensen 🇩🇰
This is one of those that you will either like or hate because of the heavy profile. I'd say it's pretty close to the Corman Collins release just with even more smoky wood and tannins. Dry with dried fruit and spices in the back. But the smoky wood and tannins take the front seat on this one. A super dry finish!
Review by Pavel Spacek
This Saint James was definitely not Velier masterpiece. Just one common filling to co tinue the production.
Review by Adrien B
Nez à l'air plus sucré, sciure Bouche vif, acide , végétal acide Non trop savonneuse Un côté PM ddl
Review by Rumclub Latvia
Very dry Rhum. If you like wood integrated in spirit, leather, “bookshelf”, nuts, black tea - this one will be yours
Review by Oliver
Too dry and too much acidity for my taste. I wouldn't have blindly ordered it to Martinique.
Review by Johan R
Intressant aningen bäriga toner i avslut men parfymig igen.
Review by ilRummista
Il mio preferito della serie, complesso ma bilanciato. Un bellissimo Saint James!
Review by Rowald Sweet Empire
Tasted at a private tasting.
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Current bids for this rum at Europe's leading auction houses.
Market value
Avg. community purchase price 172 €
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 Saint James Sélection exclusive Velier 2002
A Rhum Agricole AOC from Martinique, bottled by Velier, at 47%.
Community purchases
19 bottles logged by 17 collectors.
A collector's bottle.
5% opened, 0 emptied and repurchased.
What does Velier Saint James Sélection exclusive Velier 2002 cost?
Community paid 15–199 €.
Current best price: 179.00 € – within the typical community range.
What members actually paid for their bottles. A typical range, not the current shop price. Full price & collection history in RX+ →
19 purchased · 63 tasted · 3 wishlist · as of
Read on in the RumX Guide
All releases in this series
Velier Saint James Sélection exclusive Velier 1998
Velier Saint James Sélection exclusive Velier 1998Rounded, woody old Martinique agricole
Velier Saint James Sélection exclusive Velier 2000
Velier Saint James Sélection exclusive Velier 2000Dark, dry old agricole; balanced but not complex
Velier Saint James Sélection exclusive Velier 2002
Velier Saint James Sélection exclusive Velier 2002Old, woody agricole with a divisive soapy palate
Velier Saint James Sélection exclusive Velier 2004
Velier Saint James Sélection exclusive Velier 2004Woody, herbal aged agricole with a bitter edge
Velier Saint James Sélection exclusive Velier 2006
Velier Saint James Sélection exclusive Velier 2006Dry, woody aged agricole with citrus
Velier Saint James Sélection exclusive Velier 2008
Velier Saint James Sélection exclusive Velier 2008Grassy aged agricole with a soapy streak
Velier Saint James Sélection exclusive Velier 2010
Velier Saint James Sélection exclusive Velier 2010Great nose, divisive soapy agricole palate
Velier Saint James Sélection exclusive Velier 2012
Velier Saint James Sélection exclusive Velier 2012Woody, floral agricole with a divisive soapy note
Velier Saint James Sélection exclusive Velier 2014
Velier Saint James Sélection exclusive Velier 2014Dry, peppery agricole with a soapy edge
Velier Saint James Sélection exclusive Velier 2015
Velier Saint James Sélection exclusive Velier 2015Young, grassy agricole with divisive soapy note
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Velier Saint James Sélection exclusive Velier 2012
Velier Saint James Sélection exclusive Velier 2012Woody, floral agricole with a divisive soapy note
Velier Saint James Sélection exclusive Velier 2014
Velier Saint James Sélection exclusive Velier 2014Dry, peppery agricole with a soapy edge
Velier Saint James Sélection exclusive Velier 2015
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