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Damoiseau Rhum Vieux 1980
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Sip this one slowly and give it fifteen minutes in the glass — that's when it really unpacks. Dried plum and blackcurrant lead, then licorice, anise, cinnamon and a floral violet lift, over cedar and dark chocolate. At 60.3% the alcohol is there but woven in tight; several tasters swear they can barely feel the proof. The finish runs long and keeps shifting.
The community says- Huge complexity
- Alcohol well integrated
- Endless finish
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Yes, if you're after bold, mature, oaky rums for sipping neat.
Similar in style and available now.
Woodier
Velier Damoiseau Full Proof 19809.2/10 (98)861.90 €
28 rated both: 8 scored it higher, 7 scored Damoiseau Rhum Vieux 1980 higher, 13 gave both the same score.Drier
Velier Caroni Heavy Trinidad Rum HTR 19929.3/10 (73)1,549.00 €
26 rated both: 13 scored it higher, 7 scored Damoiseau Rhum Vieux 1980 higher, 6 gave both the same score.Milder
Velier Uitvlugt ULR ULR 19979.3/10 (119)1,490.00 €
33 rated both: 21 scored it higher, 9 scored Damoiseau Rhum Vieux 1980 higher, 3 gave both the same score.
The look inside the bottle
How does Damoiseau Rhum Vieux 1980 taste?
From community reviews · summarized with AI
Deep, complex old Guadeloupe sipper Near-universal awe here — a deep, complex old Guadeloupe that owners rank among their best. If you want something loud and simple, this isn't it.
Aroma profilecollectors chasing old, layered vintage rhum
anyone wanting an easy, one-note pour
Style & occasion: Mature & oakySipping neat
Full aroma profile Aroma families · nose & palate · top aromas
Relative to this rum's strongest aroma family
24 of 57 left detailed tasting impressions · Click an aroma to explore similar rums
Which glass for which rum? The community guide ›
What does the community say?
57 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.
22 selected written reviews
The distribution above includes all 57 ratings, including those without text.
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
Powerful, aged Guadeloupe rum with intense aromas. On the nose, dark fruits, vanilla, wood, and a hint of tobacco. On the palate, full-bodied with notes of dried fruit, spice, and light coffee, accompanied by an elegant sweetness. The 60% ABV packs a punch but is excellently integrated. The finish is long, spicy, and dry with a fine bitterness. An impressive, complex Damoiseau that perfectly combines depth and maturity.
Review by Oliver
A treat
Review by Thomas Wille
Exceptional rum - same level as the Velier Damoiseau 1980 - fantastic
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 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 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 Skyfly
Wow - half a year ago I was still skeptical about Agricoles, but this rum once again impressively shows me how wrong I was. You don't often get rums as complex as this one in your glass - tropical and dried fruits, various spices, leather, licorice, chocolate, and so much more. A top-class rum that I absolutely need a bottle of!
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 Felix Reiber
Refined! Complex! Unique! The nose of this brilliant Damoiseau is very harmonious and multi-layered with plum, vanilla, spices, dried currant, cherry, cinnamon, raisins, and licorice. This brilliant complexity is expanded by floral notes, wood, anise, and lavender. On the palate, spices, licorice, dried plum, malt, leather, cola, and dark chocolate flow through my taste buds. The alcohol, if present, is absolutely masterfully integrated. Brown sugar, pencil shavings, mint, and refined cask notes enhance the complexity. The eternal, persistent (in a good way) finish first offers spices, licorice, malt, leather, oak, tropical fruits, and caramel. Then dark chocolate, dried fruits, and mint join in. This rum from Guadeloupe is absolutely mind-blowing! Many thanks to @Tschusikovsky for this opportunity 😃
Review by crazyforgoodbooze
What a poem. On the nose, rich, sweet dried plums, licorice, anise, cinnamon, and currants, with a slight hint of lavender. On the palate, licorice, cola, and malt syrup come through at the same time, fresh mint and sugarcane, as well as nougat and again some lavender and dark chocolate. In the finish, a bit of sea salt joins the chocolate, along with dried plums again – almost reminiscent of salted Japanese ume plums. Plus subtle mint and licorice again. Really very, very delicious. Only the licorice flavor ends up being a bit too dominant for me. But that’s really nitpicking at a high level. The alcohol is perfectly integrated despite the high ABV. Nevertheless, I wouldn’t buy a bottle here – because it doesn’t hit my taste 100%. Either way, extremely high level! 😁👏🏼
Review by Serge
Really awesome rum with an insanely complex nose, good alcohol integration, and a great mouthfeel with high aroma density. Dark, dense, yet fresh and fruity with a slightly medicinal side. Delicious.
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 Fuwi
A fantastic rum, it starts releasing its aromas as soon as you pour it. At first, it's very intense on the nose, but over time it becomes calmer and rounder. After about half an hour, I tried it for the first time. Until then, I had spicy notes of dark fruits with vanilla, wood, and a hint of cinnamon on the nose, along with a light scent of violets and metallic hints of menthol or eucalyptus. On the tongue, it feels very creamy, the alcohol is almost imperceptible, and the full aroma pumps through. Leather, licorice, and dark fruit with floral influences and grassy notes that support and push each other forward. The finish is long and eventful, it changes a bit now and then before you can no longer perceive it. Fantastic!
Review by ArminK
A real flavor bomb. Right from the opening, the first fruits hit the nose. The 60.3% alcohol is barely noticeable. On the palate, an immediate explosion of flavors. Fruity, nutty with wood, a slight sweetness. Minimal bitterness in the finish. WOW
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)
Review by Richard Krupa
In the nose, jam and dried plums; on the palate, pronounced spices, licorice, and other medicinal flavor notes.
Review by Александр Иванов
Ok, I'm already try 45y.o. Cuban rum, so it's time for very old Guadeloupe, vintage 1980. Nose: Mmm, delicious plum & lavender. Dry blackcurrant, dry mango, sweet cherry, raisins. Some elegant wood (like vintage boutique), cinnamon, nutmeg, licorice, berries, fermented fruits, dry apples and black tea with mint. Palate: Salty. Blackcurrant, plums, little bit spicy, fresh, minty, some dark chocolate with hint of licorice, cola. Some fresh fruity notes eucalyptus, peper (peperoni), pecan nut & berries. Wonderful. Aftertaste: Long. Still lot of blackcurrant, plums & prunes, vintage furniture, fruits, berries & hint of mint. Conclusion: Well, it's really very good. I mean, great, but not Excellent, that why my rate 8,9. I try old Bellevue, and that was more complex. But this one, still wonderful rum, amazing experience.
Review by Filip Šikula
Diamond-studded RFC 2025 advent calendar The penultimate day offered us this wonderful gem! A complex nose full of flowers, wood, licorice, and spices. On the palate, the incredible integration of alcohol immediately grabs you. Also a bunch of flowers, fruit, and wood. Perfect piece!
Review by Pavel Ungr, RumRock
Vintage 1980. I rate it 9.0 out of 10, it belongs to the absolute top among more than 1,300 rums I've ever scored.
Review by Buddudharma
Perfect intensity and an eternal finish. Noble drop...
This selection contains no written reviews in this rating range.
Expert reviews
2 critics scored it, averaging 9.3/10. Reviews from RumX's blog partners, independent experts who have tasted, evaluated, and described this rum.
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...
Expert review by Single Cask Rum
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Damoiseau Rhum Vieux 1980 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
25 bottles logged by 23 collectors.
Both drunk and collected.
16% opened, 3 emptied.
What did the community pay for Damoiseau Rhum Vieux 1980?
Community paid 231–788 €.
Purchase prices reported by members, not a shop price. Avg. 900 €. Full price & collection history in RX+ ›
25 purchased · 58 tasted · 40 wishlist · as of
Details about Damoiseau Rhum Vieux 1980
A rum from Guadeloupe, distilled by Damoiseau, at 60,3%.
Read on in the RumX Guide
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