Valinch & Mallet Diamond Skeldon (Bourbon Cask) SWR 2001
Loved by Tschusikowsky, lukasdrinkinghabits & 33 more
For curious explorers of Demerara, this 20‑year Skeldon-style Diamond offers smoky wood, dried fruits, caramel, licorice and a slightly tart twist. RumX members find it elegant but lighter, almost watery, for the age and price.
- Elegant Demerara profile
- Complex dried fruits
- Accessible 50.7% ABV
Details about Valinch & Mallet Diamond Skeldon (Bourbon Cask) SWR 2001
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How does Valinch & Mallet Diamond Skeldon (Bourbon Cask) SWR 2001 taste?
Aggregated from 48 community reviews.
Elegant but lighter Guyana oddball For curious explorers of Demerara, this 20‑year Skeldon-style Diamond offers smoky wood, dried fruits, caramel, licorice and a slightly tart twist. RumX members find it elegant but lighter, almost watery, for the age and price.
Demerara fans who enjoy dried fruits, smoky wood and caramel in a relatively gentle 50.7% format, and collectors curious about the quirky side of the 2001 SWR Skeldon-style releases.
Those chasing big, intense Skeldon 2001 profiles, or drinkers who dislike tart/acidic ester notes, thinner textures or paying premium prices for subtler rums.
How is Valinch & Mallet Diamond Skeldon (Bourbon Cask) SWR 2001 rated?
RumX's 0–10 scale is strict — 8.3 lands squarely in the "Very good" band. 97% of tasters rate it Good or better; only 0% rate it below average. See the full rating guide →
Rum reviews
A selection of the most popular reviews from our community. You can view the complete list in our app.
Review by Tschusikowsky
Irgendwie schräg. In der Nase kommen Düfte die an frisch geöffneten eingelegten Kohl erinnern. Schlecht ist er nicht aber unerwartet anders. Grundsätzlich harmonisch. Fällt im Vergleich zu anderen desselben Jahrgangs und Mark aber für mich stark ab. Retasting September 2025: weiss nicht ob damals mein Sample nicht iO waren oder mein Gaumen nicht parat. Hat mir jetzt unglaublich toll gefallen. Würzig, holzig mit Sirup und Brühwürfel. Fruchtgummi mit Schokolade und Holz, rauchig und Tabak. Trockener Abgang. Eine coole Abfüllung.
Review by lukasdrinkinghabits
Again in the glass. Along with the SVL. it is a SWR, but a weirdo.Tasted along with the two SBS SWRs. Would never have mistaken this blind for an SWR. The signature nose with cappuccino and caramel is hard to find, above that is an artificial fruity ester layer reminiscent of the SBS SVL 2003 or maybe a low ester Jamaican with a cognac finish. This fat layer covers up a lot and leaves little air for other nuances. In the mouth, the sour esters continue. The alcohol integration is also quite different, probably because of the acidity. I'm really not sure this is an SWR and not more of an SV(L). Will have to taste this again against SVL. I'm confused. The rating is with a strong caveat. Need to taste this one a few more times.
Review by cigares
Un peu trop d’alcool au nez, du bois, des fruits secs, du caramel et du cuir. Tous les éléments sont présents mais il manque une certaine harmonie, surtout en comparaison directe avec d’autres Skeldons. La bouche est elle aussi dominée par un alcool pas tout à fait bien intégré. Les arômes sont au second plan. Heureusement la finale est équilibrée, longue et savoureuse avec une belle amertume qui donne envie de se resservir.
Review by DomM
Akin to the KD this one is an oddball out of the 2001 batch. There is a distinct smokiness on the nose. The fruit notes have a somewhat chemical/artificial twist. It somewhat reminds me of Jamaican fruity esters..? 🤔 While this is more harsh on the alcoholic side versus the other casks, it feels comparabley thin on the palate. There is just less to discover and complexity overall. I guess this is not really a bad release, but just significantly behind other 2001 SWR bottlings, strangely.
Review by Jakob
Not a bad rum, but in view of the other 2001 Diamonds unfortunately somewhat disappointing. Rather flat, yellow fruits, wood, spices, cocoa burnt sugar - overall quaffable, but without corners and edges, which is why the whole lacks a bit of character.
Review by crazyforgoodbooze
Könnte paar % mehr haben aber alles in allem ein erkennbares Demerara Profil, allerdings würde ich ihn niemals auf Skeldons tippen. Sticht definitiv aus den anderen 2001ern raus. Viel Dörrpflaume, Limettenschale, Orange, dunkler Demerara-Sirup, Lakritze, Gewürzen. Insgesamt aber dann auch ein recht kurzer Abgang was ihm paar Punkte Abzug verleiht... So richtig holt er mich leider nicht ab.
Review by Kevin Sorensen 🇩🇰
Pretty OK release but price to quality is a bit off in my mind. I liked the release from S.B.S better because it had more "punch" in the flavour profile.
Review by Johannes
Ein eher untypischer Skeldon mit deutlich weniger Melasse- und Fruchtnoten, als viel mehr Apfelessignoten.
Review by TheRhumhoe
Un Diamond avec le mark de Skeldon. Le nez rappelle les notes sombres de Guyana, avec le sucre brûlé, le café, le chocolat, les épices et quelques notes rôties. Les fruits secs (raisin) se font plus insistant après aération. Il y a une légère note de tabac et de fraîcheur qui s’échappe du verre. Agréable, mais rien de surprenant ou de très complexe derrière. L’ensemble est très doux et accessible. L’attaque en bouche est assez fine et suave. Beaucoup de marqueurs de gourmandise de Guyana entre les notes chocolatées, caféinées, boisées et épicées. Il y a également une certaine amertume présente au palais. Les raisins secs sont toujours de la partie. Le profil est doux et assez net, toujours dans la continuité de ce qu’il y a au nez. Malgré les 50 degrés affichés, on ne ressent pratiquement rien, on pourrait critiquer ce manque de watts et de profondeur sur le profil global, mais cela reste très accessible pour les débutants dans le domaine. La finale est dans la même lignée mais perd vite en saveurs. Seules l’amertume et les raisins secs persistent au palais. Un embouteillage clairement en dessous des standards de Valinch & Mallet et des SWR 2001 déjà sortis. Dommage car l’ensemble est plaisant et gourmand, mais manque de complexité et de caractère pour faire partie du haut du panier.
Review by Thunderbird
Mark SWR?? Das fällt mir schwer zu glauben… dazu fehlen mir die typischen Marker… davon ist dieser Diamond weit von entfernt! Insgesamt dennoch ein harmonischer Rum, der gefällt! Nichts herausragendes und dem Preis sicherlich nicht angemessen, aber gut trinkbar
Review by Maxence
Nose is a bit shy but very elegant with a nice balance between dark and round notes. Mouth feels a bit watery but, at the end, it is more expressive and funky than the nose. It is also slightly more complex. His weakness is the final which is rather too short. A very good rum though. I honestly don't understand such low average rating. Are people insane or is it just because it has not been released by Velier ? 🤔
Review by Basti
Der Alkohol ist extrem gut eingebunden. Dennoch für mich nicht auf Augenhöhe mit anderen 2001er Skeldons/SWRs. Für mich ist er zu sauer und die dunklen, würzigen und röstigen Noten von Kaffee fehlen hier.
Review by Tim
Ein fruchtiger Skeldon (wirklich typisch Skeldon?) mit Zitrusfrüchten und Einfluss wie von einem Port Mourant. Nase ist schwächer und weniger komplex. Kaum röstig. Im Mund allerdings dann doch röstiger und sehr gefällig mit Vanille, Karamell und Frucht. Das hat mich positiv überrascht! Guter Rum, aber nicht wirklich ein "typischer" Skeldon.
Review by Leo Krüper
Im 3er Vergleichstasting mit Nobilis und Sbs. Sehr süßer, schwerer, holziger Rum. Etwas Dreck und Rauch, aber dennoch sehr süffig. Mittellanger Abgang.
Review by Mike H.
I had higher expectations. Seems a little flat, almost as if it had been watered down.
Community purchases
40 bottles logged by 52,000+ RumX members. The ratio of closed / opened / emptied, indicates whether this rum is meant to be drunk or is a collector's item.
Also on the wishlist of 4 members.
About the Diamond distillery
The Diamond distillery is located in Guyana. Rums from Diamond have been reviewed 5,068 times with an average of 8.3/10.
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