Aroma visualization from community tastings
Saint James XO Très Vieux Rhum Agricole
Most tasters see this as a good-value entry into Martinique agricole, with a real split over the oak. The nose is fruity and expressive — sugarcane, caramel, a touch of chocolate — but the palate turns dry, woody and spicy, sometimes so bourbon-heavy that one Islay-loving reviewer found it unbalanced and salty. Several call it a fine daily agricole that just "lacks in complexity."
The community says- Expressive fruity nose
- True agricole character
- But: Oak can dominate
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Buy Saint James XO Très Vieux Rhum Agricole:
Compare all 5 shop offers from 47.50 €
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The look inside the bottle
How does Saint James XO Très Vieux Rhum Agricole taste?
Aggregated from 54 community reviews.
Dry, woody agricole with an easy entry price Most rate it a good, honest agricole and a friendly first step into the style. The recurring gripes: the oak can dominate the palate, and it's a bit simple.
Newcomers to Martinique agricole and whisky drinkers curious about cane juice
Agricole purists who dislike heavy bourbon-cask oak
How the community classifies this rum. Each category takes you to similar rums.
Which glass for which rum? The community guide →
24 of 54 left detailed tasting impressions · Click an aroma to explore similar rums
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How is Saint James XO Très Vieux Rhum Agricole rated?
RumX’s 0–10 scale is strict: 7.6 sits in the “Good” band. 83% 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?
81% rate it between 6 and 8. 16 selected write-ups from 54 community ratings. You can view the complete list in our app.
Review by LukaŽiga
7,5:The nose immediately takes us into a vegetal notes, caramel, smokiness, after that with moist wood loaded with powerful aromas of exotic fruits and spices. The cane juice is totally candied, but also studded with woody tannins, resin and red fruits.Aeration brings a breath of fresh air and the fruits of the orchard shine through, even floral notes with elderflower. The pear, for example, reveals its delicate aromas and silky flesh, covered by a light caramel, iodine with hints of coffee. 7,3:The palate is nicely spicy, minty and tannic, the cane is fresh, vegetal. Peaches are in front of a few lime peels, spiciness is screaming loud, numbs the tasting buds sometimes, uncovering the volcanique notes, some minimal bitterness, drieness with wood and Bourbon and red fruits notes. Really intense. 7,5:The finish brings us woody roundedness, some lime peel stays, with lots of melted sweet spices and pepper.
Review by Tim
The nose is heavy in fruity notes with some sugar cane/caramel and chocolate. The nose seems rounder and smoother compared to the younger Saint James rums, as the citrus and smokiness is weaker. In the mouth then again dry and spicy (typical Agricole), with fruit and caramel hanging on. Overall a bit smoother here as well. I especially like the fruit and chocolate.
Review by TheRhumhoe
A Saint James offering very good value for money. The nose is expressive, oscillating between fruity and vegetal notes (sugar cane), a hint of herbs and spices and a very elegant woodiness for its age. Spice and wood take center stage on the palate, but the earthy, slightly toasty side is not far behind. The whole is soft, light but quite complex for an XO. The finish is a little shorter, dominated by spice and wood. A solid entry-level bottle for agricultural rums, especially in the XO category.
Review by Elijs Dima
Interesting nose, slightly funky but not Jamaican. Taste is entirely different, oaky and like an American bourbon/rye. Very drying mouthfeel. Good as a whiskey-ish drink but not enough of a rum distinctiveness on the taste. Better than a bunch of bourbons tho.
Review by passlemix
A light citrus nose. Then barique, wood but not too much. A little spice and a hint of aniseed. Relatively well-balanced. Lacks a touch of sweetness. Not unpleasant, but I probably won't be back 😅
Review by Christian Rudt
Clearly more balanced than the VSOP. Fruit comes through better. Lots of sugar cane and also earthy notes and some caramel sweetness on the palate. With dry finish, very decent Agricole standard quality.
Review by Kevin Sorensen 🇩🇰
This is a light version of the older brothers. Fruity with a nice caramel hint in the profile. Lightly dry on the palate and the empty glass has some chocolate and a light smoky note.
Review by Isidor B.
After visiting Martinique (and Guadaloupe) now for the third time, mostly due to my passion for Agricole rhum, and not just after having tasted all XO’s but visiting every single distillery there, I can say that unless you are in your heart primarily a Whisky drinker, this product is bad and by far the worst of the XO’s from this beautiful island. Completely unbalanced, just too much barrel. There is of course more than the barrel that I taste, but this does not come natural and easy since I have really to concentrate to feel what is behind. Actually, my first impression was positive, I felt a saltiness, that I never have witnessed in a agricole rhum. Since when I drink whisky I am seeking that Scottish Islay maritime taste we were off to a good start until those external notes became too dominantly penetrating, from start to finish. Rum, especially from cane juice is something extremely filigran, traditionally cognac barrels were used in the French Rhum paradise, since cognac is itself filigrane the marriage comes almost natural. When you age with bourbon/whisky you have to be careful not to overpower, most distilleries manage to influence enrich the starting product just enough without distorting it. It’s a pity they didn’t do it right, as if done properly saltiness could potentially add something excitingly new to our agricole micro-cosmos. This is a completely unusual product that either is a mistake by screwing the aging process or an calculated agenda to attract drinkers from the vastly bigger whisky market over to drink rum. Depaz XO is the clear number 1 from Martinique but costs unless you bring it from Martinique with you. Dillon XO is a more well-rounded and also cheaper option. Cigar/tobacco recommendation: a Cuban cigar with enough body can take some of edge off the rum.
Review by edouard jaulent
Très bonne surprise pour un RQP remarquable, un XO sans prétention mais diablement efficace qui ravira les amateurs.
Review by Alexandre Rolin
Un vrai agricole puissant et riche en saveur. Une bonne introduction dans cette gamme de rhum Martiniquais.
Review by Insta: spiritofbernard 🇫🇷
A nose that displeased me enormously and too much wood. Really not a success.
Review by TheJackDrop
"La pépite de la soirée ?! A balancer avec le 15. On est clairement sur autre chose. En resume, mes notes de degutation : Au nez : Boisé, Fruité, Canne à sucre En bouche : Boisé, Caramel, Épicé, Pruneaux La finale plutot orientee vers : Boisé, Caramel, Épicé"
Review by Godspeed
My current slapper rum. Excellent price to quality (bought for 38€).
Review by Leo Krüper
Tolles PLV, super Einsteiger in Agricoles
Review by Galli33
Very good agricole. Lacks in complexity.
Review by Karlheinz Markhof
Ich erkenne nichts Besonderes.
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Market value
Avg. community purchase price 45 €
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 Saint James XO Très Vieux Rhum Agricole
A Rhum Agricole AOC from Martinique, distilled by Saint James, at 43%.
Community purchases
61 bottles logged by 56 collectors.
A drinker's rum.
45% opened, 12 emptied and repurchased.
What does Saint James XO Très Vieux Rhum Agricole cost?
Community paid 11–56 €.
Current best price: 47.50 € – 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+ →
61 purchased · 57 tasted · 22 wishlist · as of
Read on in the RumX Guide
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Depaz XO Grande Réserve
Depaz XO Grande RéserveBalanced, woody aged Martinique agricole
J. Bally Pyramide 7 Ans
J. Bally Pyramide 7 AnsEasy, balanced aged agricole, a bit short
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