Aroma visualization from community tastings
Damoiseau Rhum Vieux 1980
Sip this one neat and give it fifteen minutes in the glass — that's when the layers come out. Dried plum, licorice, vanilla, leather and dark chocolate, with wet oak and a touch of mint underneath. The 60.3% is there but tasters keep calling it beautifully integrated, not hot. Dense, spicy and properly old, with a finish several people describe as endless.
- Very complex
- Long finish
- Well-integrated alcohol
+10
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How does Damoiseau Rhum Vieux 1980 taste?
Aggregated from 52 community reviews.
Old, complex, dried-fruit cask-strength Guadeloupe A near-unanimous favorite — deep, complex and warm with dried fruit, spice and licorice. Many rate it level with the famous Velier 1980; the only "catch" is the alcohol presence.
People who chase old, complex cask-strength rhum and like to nose it slowly
Anyone wanting an easy, low-strength everyday sipper
How is Damoiseau Rhum Vieux 1980 rated?
RumX's 0–10 scale is strict , 9.3 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
A selection of the most popular reviews from our community. You can view the complete list in our app.
Based on 52 ratings
Review by RumTaTa
Second tasting: the nose is the hammer, very similar to the '95! On the palate then a dream, incredibly creamy and the alcohol excellently integrated, there is the '95 much sharper (+1). In the nose first resin and cough syrup, very complex! Palate: surprisingly mild, excellent integrated alcohol, strong spicy and again very complex. The medicinal notes are in the foreground. Aftertaste: the rum fades very slowly. The medicinal and grassy notes prevail. The medicinal character dominates the rum and makes it something special, top!
Review by Mirco
Kräftiger, gereifter Guadeloupe-Rum mit intensiver Aromatik. In der Nase dunkle Früchte, Vanille, Holz und eine Spur Tabak. Am Gaumen vollmundig mit Noten von Trockenfrucht, Gewürz und leichtem Kaffee, begleitet von einer eleganten Süße. Die 60 % bringen Druck, sind aber hervorragend eingebunden. Der Abgang ist lang, würzig und trocken mit feiner Bitterkeit. Ein eindrucksvoller, komplexer Damoiseau, der Tiefe und Reife perfekt vereint.
Review by Oliver
A treat
Review by Thomas Wille
Exceptional rum - same level as the Velier Damoiseau 1980 - fantastic
Review by Jakob
Formidable rum. Heavy fruit notes, leather, barrel influences, subtle sweetness, mint, well-tarred spiciness. The alcohol is present, but apart from that there is nothing to complain about here. A pleasure!
Review by Kevin Sorensen 🇩🇰
I had forgotten that I had this one in my cabinet, so when I found it yesterday I just had to give it a go. From opening the bottle the flavours just keep oozing out and I left it for 15 minutes to rest. The nose comes off very fresh and fruity with a hint of alcohol. A very complex nose with a grassy/floral note to it. The palate was another surprise. Complex yet very well integrated alcohol releasing a ton of flavours. A fruity warm experience with cinnamon and licorice. The finish is ridiculously long and nice. Reminds me of the smoothness of the 1972 Courcelles I also have.
Review by Tschusikowsky
Ein Vergleich, auf den ich mich lange gefreut habe. Die berühmte Velier Abfüllung gegnüber der Direktabfüllung von Damoiseau. ABV mit 60,3 bei beiden identisch. Damoiseau in der Farbe wesentlich dunkler. Damoiseau 1980 – Direktabfüllung der Destillerie In der Nase intensiv und dunkel, mit Pflaume, würzigem nassem Holz, Kernobst, gelben Früchten, Vanille und feinen Parfumnoten von Veilchen. Dazu tropische Früchte und ein Hauch Zimt. Die Dichte und Vielschichtigkeit erinnern teilweise an ältere Guyana-Abfüllungen, insbesondere REV. Am Gaumen warm, sirupig-ölig mit Minze, etwas Eukalyptus, erneut Zimt und Pflaume, begleitet von parfümiertem Zedernholz. Ein Feuerwerk aus gelben Früchten, Aprikose und Schokolade. Der lange Abgang bringt Pfirsich, Schokolade und etwas Apfel, mit einer spürbaren, aber angenehmen Tanninstruktur. Insgesamt ein unglaublich toller Rhum, süsser und sirupartiger als der Velier, mit viel zu entdecken. Velier Damoiseau 1980 – Full Proof Zu Beginn zeigt sich der Alkohol in der Nase etwas schärfer, dennoch mit schöner Pflaumen- und Schokoladennote, kombiniert mit nassem Holz. Mit der Zeit öffnet sich der Rum und bringt mehr Mango, Maracuja und tropische Fruchtfülle, dazu Pfeifentabak und einen erfrischenden, tropischen Eistee, der gedanklich nach Trinidad entführt. Am Gaumen kraftvoll, aber perfekt balanciert, mit Noten von Aprikose, Pflaume und einer Fülle tropischer Früchte, unterlegt von einer ganz leichten Käseassoziation. Die Tannine sind wesentlich leichter als bei der Direktabfüllung. Der Abgang ist sehr lang und harmonisch. Vergleich Beide Rhums sind auf höchstem Niveau und bieten enorme Vielschichtigkeit und Komplexität, die man über einen ganzen Abend hinweg erkunden kann. Die Direktabfüllung von Damoiseau wirkt wie eine elegante, fruchtbetonte Guyana-Abfüllung mit mehr Süsse, Tiefe und Tannin. Die Velier-Abfüllung dagegen spielt ihre Stärken in einer tropisch-fruchtigen Excellence aus, leichter in den Tanninen und mit einer brillanten Balance. Ich würde sagen am Ende ist es wohl persönliche Präferenz, einen wirklichen Sieger gibt es für mich nicht. Müsste ich entscheiden, hätte Velier für mich einen Ticken die Nase vorne.
Review by Maxence
Very close to Velier release. Better nose in my opinion because slightly more complex. Nevertheless, palate is a little less balanced. Difficult to find a winner here. Let's just say it is definitely a very great rum just as its brother 😋
Review by Tim
This rum is very difficult to put into words because the nose is so complex and evenly balanced that it is difficult to identify individual components. Then in the mouth and finish dark sugar / licorice and generally dark flavors stand out a bit, but overall still impressive!
Review by Frank
Wow! What a full, spicy and round scent rises to the nose. With the spicy there is vanilla, anise and perhaps a hint of Maggi. But then also at the same time a pleasant fresh sweetness of dried currant and raisin. Also a fine floral scent of violet seems to me. That already inspires. It continues just as nicely on the palate. Full-bodied, intense, spicy. The light anise has become sweet licorice. Malty notes give something woody. I get the hint of citrus with cola. The fruitiness from dried plum and blackberry. The alcohol is wonderfully integrated. The spicy finish with a hint of sugar cane transitioning into tea is a worthy one. Quite a great drop in the best age.
Review by Mopar Rules
amazing stuff! The longer the rhum rests in the glas, the more flavors evaporate from it. Wooden notes from the cask dominate in the beginning while over time dried plum, dark chocolate and a subtle caramel note take over. It’s very complex on the nose which continues on the palate with basically the same notes. Endless finish; I am in love with this french Lady (if Rhum can be defined as female)
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Expert reviews
Reviews from RumX's blog partners, independent experts who have tasted, evaluated, and described this rum..
Expert review by Single Cask Rum
Read full review →
Expert review by The Dunder Hut
"I take everything back about it's 60% brother, this one is damoiseau turned up to 12. Really intense, a little alcohol, but I doubt damoise gets much better than this..."
Details about Damoiseau Rhum Vieux 1980
A rum from Guadeloupe, distilled by Damoiseau, at 60,3%.
Community purchases
24 bottles logged by 23 collectors.
A drinker & collector.
16% opened, 3 emptied and repurchased.
What did the community pay for Damoiseau Rhum Vieux 1980?
Community paid €221–€700.
What members actually paid for their bottles. A typical range, not the current shop price. Full price & collection history in RX+ →
24 purchased · 54 tasted · 39 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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Enmore RA Guyana Rum REV 1994
Enmore RA Guyana Rum REV 1994Tasting noteHeavy, oily Enmore — plums, leather, licorice
Velier Port Mourant PM 1993
Velier Port Mourant PM 1993Tasting noteIntense, woody Port Mourant with bitter licorice edge
Velier Diamond & Versailles SVSG 1996
Velier Diamond & Versailles SVSG 1996Tasting noteDark, heavy Demerara full of licorice and coffee
Nobilis No. 3 Rockley BBR 1986
Nobilis No. 3 Rockley BBR 1986Tasting noteSmoky, honeyed old Rockley with medicinal depth
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Oliver · FounderBy rum lovers, for rum lovers
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