Aroma visualization from community tastings
Silver Seal West Indies Barbados BRS 1986
Strictly a neat, take-your-time sipper — this Rockley-still Barbados needs real air in the glass before it opens. Then it's honey dripping from wax and beeswax, smoke that leans more incense than peat, black tea, herbs and a dirty rubber/bicycle-tube funk. Tasters keep tripping over how un-Bajan it drinks, often mistaking it blind for Jamaica or Guyana. At 58.8% the alcohol runs a touch sharp.
The community says- Honey and beeswax
- Complex, layered
- Long finish
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The look inside the bottle
How does Silver Seal West Indies Barbados BRS 1986 taste?
Aggregated from 65 community reviews.
Intense, waxy Rockley with dirty smoke A widely loved 33-year Rockley: intense, waxy, smoky and complex, with a long finish. A few find the alcohol a little sharp or the smoke too whisky-like for their taste.
Rockley-style fans who love waxy, dirty, funky old rums
Anyone who dislikes smoky, whisky-leaning profiles
How the community classifies this rum. Each category takes you to similar rums.
Which glass for which rum? The community guide →
37 of 65 left detailed tasting impressions · Click an aroma to explore similar rums
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How is Silver Seal West Indies Barbados BRS 1986 rated?
RumX’s 0–10 scale is strict: 9.1 sits in the “Excellent” band. 98% 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?
97% rate it 8 or higher. 18 selected write-ups from 65 community ratings. You can view the complete list in our app.
Review by Schnubbii
In der Nase fruchtig mit Anklängen von schwarzem Tee, Gewürzen und Bohnerwachs. Gaumen: Wow, was ist das denn? Süß im Antritt mit leicht Veilchen, dann Gewürze wie Kardamom, dazu schwarzer Tee, etwas Bohnerwachs, leicht Banane und edles Holz. Alkohol fantastisch eingebunden. Sehr komplex und vielschichtig. Im Abgang bleibt das edle Holz und es kommen Dörrfrüchte und eine leichte Bitterkeit dazu. Erinnert mich leicht an einen Port Mourant, aber das trifft es nicht genau. Vielleicht ein Blend? Auf jeden Fall für mich ein fantastischer Rum!
Review by mto75
Two more 86 Rockleys today, the Bristol (thanks to Vienna!) at 46% and the Silver Seal at 58.8% - so not quite a fair comparison. I like the Bristol and it immediately screams out loud: Rockley! A fat honey note on the nose immediately. The SS is more complex (herbs, olive, brine), but a little less on the typical markers. On its own, the dilution of the Bristol is not a problem, but in direct comparison, the SS simply scores higher here, especially with its incredibly long finish.
Review by Boletus
Tag 22 des RumX-Adventskalenders: Braucht längeren Luftkontakt, um sich vollends zu öffnen, entwickelt dadurch aber ein ungemein spannendes Profil und eine ausgesprochen beeindruckende Komplexität. Nur wenige, helle Fruchtaromen in Richtung Banane und Mango sind am Start, aber diese Mischung aus von Honig tropfenden Bienenwaben und sanftem Rauch, welcher keinerlei torfige Tendenzen aufweist, sondern eher was von Weihrauch hat, begeistern mich. Kräuter, Anis und Lakritze sowie eine leicht dreckige Gumminote steigern die Vielschichtigkeit, welche in einem sehr langen und sehr feinen Abgang mündet. Hätte nicht gedacht, dass ich diesen Rum einmal ins Glas bekomme. Großartig!
Review by Alexander Rasch
First thought was Rockley. Smoky, spicy, a little aniseed and honey. Plus a lot of cask. Fruits and herbs are also there, but also a certain spiciness. The picture remains on the palate. Spicy sweetness with smoke and roasted aromas. A certain spiciness remains the whole time. I would guess a BBR 2000, approx. 55% and an even younger bottling. Around 15 years old. But it could also be something else. The cask influence increases with time. The smoke remains relatively long. If it is something else, I have to say that it is difficult to define it more precisely. I like the rum. But I also like it when it's a bit more edgy.
Review by crazyforgoodbooze
Part 6/8 of our 1986 Rockley tasting: Silver seal, awesome! Lime/peach-passion fruit/mint/black tea in liquid, plus some medicinal, dirty notes and incredibly intense and balanced! mega awesome number and one of the best rums I've ever had and will probably have!🤤❤️🇧🇧🍯🥭🍑 for me on a par with the RA but much more fruity and velvety. absolute grenade! Update: blindly I almost typed it as st. Lucia Vendome, due to the sau cool honeycomb, wax note and the rather dirty intense profile. Incredibly cool stuff!!!🙌🏼
Review by Tom Buteneers
First impression: Guyana, maybe sherry maturation/finish? There’s this alcoholic sharpness to it for now. Time for a breather. From my tasting experience, Guyana comes closest :man_shrugging: nevermind the sherry, that seems to be gone by now… I’m not familiar with the BBR profiles, so I can add nothing to that except my earlier research in the app (RX9116) I understand the varnished wood, as well as stone fruits. Also some pepper, especially in the finish on the sides of my tongue. The peppery side kinda reminds me of Mount gay and that’s about the only association that I can make to Barbados. I find it a very good rum, but for me it lacks something to get it to the “excellent” (9+) status.
Review by Kevin Sorensen 🇩🇰
One of my favourite bottles on my shelf. Though expensive it's well worth the money and I can only recommend one. The nose is there from opening the bottle and once rested it just keeps on giving. Fruits and spice with an earthy tone and some rubber. Add some smoked oak and you have a monster. The palate is intense and complex with an oily texture. Again there is fruit and spice with tea, leather and rubber in the back. Again nice and smoky oak in there. The finish is very, very long with oak and peaches in the front and tannins and licorice in the back.
Review by zabo
Edit Edit: after another few hours of oxidizing (8 hours) I now find it pleasant, but unfortunately still not good. Edit: after it only got 3.9 from me at the beginning, it was tasted again the next day after 3 hours of breathing. I now find it much more accessible. However, the extreme whisky character cannot be dismissed. The alcohol is not well integrated despite the long breathing time. It is complex, but definitely not my cup of tea with the extreme smoke. But still only mediocre for me Day 22 RumX Advent Calendar 2024 Despite all the love and the big name. Contrary to the great hype, I can't get much out of this one. As I've always detested smoky whiskies and this "rum" is very much in that vein, it just fell through for me. Still, thanks for letting me try something like this.
Review by Serge
In the direct Rockley 86 match against the Rendsburger. Honey, smoke, fruit, rubber ... everything is a little quicker on the nose here and also a little less incisive. On the other hand, the Rendsburger has a fine sour fruit note of raspberry and lime. Similarly on the palate ... the Rendsburger brings fresher fruity notes of raspberry and lime into play. Both good and ultimately a matter of taste. I prefer the Silver Seal. It brings out honey, smoke and dirt more beautifully and roundly.
Review by cigares
RumX Advent Calendar, Day 22. A strange nose with sour apple, smokiness and old varnished wood. After an hour in the glass, the flavors balance out. The palate is marked by old varnished wood, with a hint of sweetness and prune. A rather dark rum, but balanced by freshness (menthol?) and yellow fruit. The finish is rather long, with the same balance between dark notes (varnished wood) and fresher notes (mint and yellow fruit).
Review by w00tAN
After opening, something lazy and fruity, after 30 minutes in the glass no trace of it. Smoky, fruity, honey, slightly sweet, raisin? every nose gives you a new facet. I can't get enough of the smell. Intense in the mouth, first smoke, then a full broadside of black tea and endless wood, beautifully complex and super-integrated alcohol. Long, dry finish with wood and a slightly herbal/herbal aftertaste. Mega rum, meets my taste!
Review by RumTaTa
An der Nase sofort (Wald-)Honig! Dezent Rauch, gelbe Früchte und alkoholisch. Am Gaumen kommt etwas muffig/modriges hinzu, wie alles nasses Holz. Auch sehr spannend: ganz zum Ende wenn der Nachklang verblasst habe ich Eukalyptus! Sehr spannender und kontroversen Rum, mir ist die Rauchigkeit kaum aufgefallen und hat nicht gestört. Blind hatte ich auf Port Mourant getippt aber Rum der Rockley Distillery hatte ich noch nicht so viele im Glas.
Review by Alex1981
RumX Calendar 2024 Day 22: Roasted notes, red fruits, light mint, a little dirty. First thought TDL. But then gets kind of musty with time. Very sharp on the palate at first, needs time to settle. Then it becomes malty like whisky, lots of honey, plus cask. The mustiness comes through again in the finish. A very unusual and exciting sample, although not my profile. No idea what it is, but probably not TDL. PM?
Review by Righrum
A savanna, maybe agricole (Indian Ocean Stills from Velier or a cognac finish) or a traditionnel with calvados finish. On the nose, green apples, floral with a bit of smoke, plus some young wood and some vinyl. High abv, or not perfect alcool integration. There is an underlying sweetness with some yellow fruits. The palate is a bit pungent for alcohol, and overall sweet with a back of smoke and vinyl again but also leather
Review by Beach-and-Rum 🏖️🌴
Bei einer Blindverkostung hätte ich keine Ahnung gehabt was ich hier im Glas habe. Es fällt mir ehrlich gesagt schwer eine angemessene Bewertung für einen so alten Tropfen zu finden. Aber er trifft leider nicht zu 100% meinen Geschmack. Leichte Whiskeyanklänge. Er ist kräftig, rauchig, fruchtig und hat seinen ganz eigenen Charakter. Für mich ein leckerer Rum der es aber nicht schafft ganz vorne mitzuspielen.
Review by Agricoler
Tag 22 RumX Adventskalender Meiner Meinung nach ein Rockley. Schöne typische Noten Wachse,Honig,Kräuter,Bienenwachs. Sehr lecker in meinen Augen. Gut integrierter Alkohol. Der Rum bleibt kontinuierlich auf gleichem Niveau und verändert sich wenig. Was nichts schlechtes sein muss. Insgesamt war Rockley aber nie mein absoluter Favorit wenngleich der Rum fantastisch ist.
Review by Djehey
En voilà une bonne surprise ! Moi qui souhaitez découvrir ce profil mythique ! J'avoue avoir été assez perdu : il m'a fait penser à un Fiji mais avec un gros côté minérale. C'est assez rare dans le rhum, et le vieillissement continental y est certainement pour quelque chose. Très intéressant. J'ai hâte d'essayer les futurs version que pourra proposer la WIRD!
Review by Christoph
Can't decide between mango and passion fruit, plus a hint of vanilla. Change in taste to more liquid honey from a rubber cup. Finish then rather woody through to liquorice. All in all, an exciting taste journey. Lingers on the palate for a long time. Gets better and better with time.
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Expert reviews
2 critics scored it, averaging 9.5/10. Reviews from RumX's blog partners, independent experts who have tasted, evaluated, and described this rum..
Expert review by Single Cask Rum
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Expert review by Barrel Aged Thoughts
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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 1436 € – 1680 €
from 3 sales, latest 04/2025
Prices incl. buyer's premium — what a buyer pays, not what a sale nets you.
Avg. community purchase price 598 €
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 Silver Seal West Indies Barbados BRS 1986
A Pot Still Rum from Barbados, bottled by Silver Seal, at 58,8%.
Community purchases
31 bottles logged by 17 collectors.
A collector's bottle.
12% opened, 2 emptied and repurchased.
What did the community pay for Silver Seal West Indies Barbados BRS 1986?
Community paid 553–1,015 €.
What members actually paid for their bottles. A typical range, not the current shop price. Full price & collection history in RX+ →
31 purchased · 65 tasted · 40 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.
What began as my digital tasting diary is now the world's most comprehensive platform for rum fans, today carried by a small team with Jakob, Lukas and Katharina, with Robert supporting us as a freelancer. We combine the collective intelligence of our community with an integrated marketplace, so you can choose with confidence, without paperwork, detours, or expert jargon.
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