Aroma visualization from community tastings
V&B Saint James Brut de fût 2001
A whiff of glue and fresh paint greets you first — then it opens into tropical fruit, cherry and plum over dry cedar oak. This is a 19-year Martinique agricole at cask strength, and the wood stays surprisingly restrained for its age. Most tasters love the fruit-and-barrel balance; the recurring gripe is that the 57.6% never quite fades into the background.
The community says- Expressive fruity nose
- Oak stays restrained
- But: Alcohol stays sharp
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The look inside the bottle
How does V&B Saint James Brut de fût 2001 taste?
Aggregated from 56 community reviews.
Fruity, restrained-oak agricole at cask strength Widely loved for its expressive, fruity nose and well-judged oak — the one steady complaint is that the alcohol stays a bit too present on the palate.
agricole fans who like fruit-forward cask-strength bottlings
those sensitive to sharp, prominent alcohol
How the community classifies this rum. Each category takes you to similar rums.
Which glass for which rum? The community guide →
26 of 56 left detailed tasting impressions · Click an aroma to explore similar rums
Recommendation
Your next rum
One difference each to this rum.
Woodier
Saint James Les Ephémères - N°1 2001
8.8/10295 €
Milder
Excellence Rhum Saint James Brut de Fût (Excellence Rhum's 10th Anniversary) 2006
8.5/10119 €First choice: 23 of 31 tasters who tried both prefer it.
How is V&B Saint James Brut de fût 2001 rated?
RumX’s 0–10 scale is strict: 8.6 sits in the “Very good” 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?
93% rate it 8 or higher. 20 selected write-ups from 56 community ratings. You can view the complete list in our app.
Review by Émile Shevek
Al naso è esplosivo con smalto, frutti rossi e altri tropicali(banana, papaya), frutti secchi(albicocche, fichi, datteri), spezie, fiori, legno, tostatura,cioccolato, un po' di pelle e con un finale dolce, particolarmente ottimo e complesso. Al palato si ripresenta il legno e le spezie(pepe soprattutto), la pelle e la tostatura seguite da un tocco floreale e agrumato, dal tabacco e i frutti rossi+mela con uno sfondo dolce e sapido. Nel retrogusto resta secco, fruttato, legnoso e dopo alcuni minuti terroso. Nel bicchiere vuoto legno e arrostito. Grazie a Dr.Django Oscilla tra 8.9.e 9.
Review by Basti
Bislang bin ich mit Agricole noch nicht so wirklich warm geworden, daher wurde es mal wieder Zeit für ein kleines Crosstasting. 1. RX7238 (Neisson Full Proof): Insgesamt mehr auf der frischen/fruchtigen Seite. Alkohol sehr gut eingebunden -> 8,5/10. 2. RX10968 (St. James V&B): Hier gefällt mir besonders die Nase mit der dezenten Klebstoff-Note, trop. und getr. Früchten. Am Gaumen dann deutlich würziger/röstiger und leicht bitter -> 8,6/10. 3. (RX1146) La Mauny: An der Nase recht süß, mit sehr viel Karamell, ger. Nüssen und Vanille. Am Gaumen initial eine florale Note, danach dominieren Gewürze und Holz -> 8,5/10. 4. RX2216 (Kill Devil Bellevue 1998): An der Nase Minze, Schokolade und etwas Rauch. Am Gaumen ebenfalls Schokolade und Minze, dazu Holz, Karamell, etwas trop. Früchte und Leder. Hat mir geschmacklich am besten gefallen. -> 8,7/10. 5. RX6221 (Karukera Velier 70th): Für mich an der Nase am "agricolsten". Im Gegensatz zu den anderen Vertretern im Tasting kann ich hier direkt an der Nase ausmachen, dass es sich um ein Agricole handelt. Typische frische, grasige Noten, Zuckerrohr und leider auch eine leicht modrige Note mache ich aus. Auch am Gaumen für mich ziemlich floral/blumig/grasig. -> 7,9/10
Review by Thunderbird
Crosstasting mit dem 2003 Brut de Fut, einer meiner Favoriten von Saint James! Die Nase ist schon mal sehr überraschend … ich nehme anfangs sehr deutlich Klebstoffaromen, fast schon wie Uhu wahr. Das hatte ich überhaupt nichg erwartet. Nach einiger Zeit im Glas öffnet sich der SJ und erstaunlich viele Fruchtaromen von tropischen Früchten und Kirschen. Am Gaumen anfangs eine karamellisierte Süße und etwas Kokos. Relativ schnell entwickeln sich danach röstige Holznoten, etwas Veilchen, Pflaume und Kirsche in angenehmer Dichte, etwas störend ist jedoch der jederzeit präsente Alkohol. Der Abgang ist mittellang mit sehr ansprechender Frucht- und Holznote. Ein sehr guter komplexer Agricole, der jedoch an den 2003 Jahrgang nichg heranreicht, da dieser sehr viel reifer und gediegener ist
Review by Galli33
This was the winner of my small Saint James tasting!😎 Delicious nose with a hint of glue mixed with various fruits in an oaky barrel🤤🤤 This wonderfull adventure continues in mouth😏 I found a really light note of bicycle tube, I guess. Fantastic 😜😎 The finish on this one is really fruity and oaky without being bitter or astringend! The barrel and ABV is integrated very well. Conclusion of my tasting: 2006<<<2005<2001 (Roberto style 😜)
Review by Kevin Sorensen 🇩🇰
#4469 13.11.2023 A very nice and fruity release and I love that the ABV is where it is. It makes the profile so much clearer and stronger. The palate is fresh and medium oily with some coffee and caramel. The finish is medium to long with dried fruit and light grassy notes. The empty glass has some raisin, leather and very light chocolate.
Review by Jakob
Kakao trifft auf verbranntes Fass und dunkle Früchte - leider bleibt die Alkoholstärke hier ein recht präsenter Begleiter. Insgesamt eine durchaus abwechslungsreiche Balance aus herben, frischen und süssen Noten. In der aufgerufenen Preisklasse eine empfehlenswerte Abfüllung - insgesamt gibt es aber zweifelsohne bessere Rums von St. James.
Review by Lot-NAS
The nose is a real delight, opulent with dried fruits, honey, anise and some liquorice. The alcohol is not integrated very good on the palate and it feels deluded and sharp at the same time. The finish, as soon as the alcohol is gone, is long and warm, with roasted coffe, liquorice and dried fruits. Thanks to SaibotZtar for the Sample.
Review by VeryRare
Ein wunderbarer Saint James. Für seine 19 Jahren ein wahrer Gentleman und unglaublich reifer Rum. Komplex bis zum Ende und super spannend. Ein wahrer Traum. Eine super Abfüllung von V AND B France für das 20 jährige Jubiläum.
Review by jonathan.p🇫🇷
Un nez très fruité sur l exotisme, il donne très très envie de le goûter ! En bouche au début, de suite un goût de fût légèrement brûlé et prune.le tout est intense et percutant. Je conseil de le laisser s aérer un peu. Bon en résumé, c est une belle sélection et une vrai belle réussite !
Review by Maxence
Fantastic color and fantastic nose with some funkyness brought by tropical fruits. Unfortunately, palate feels rather unbalanced being too woody and spicy for my taste. A good rum overall but ot could have been a masterpiece with a palate on the same level as the nose.
Review by Agricoler
Wow unglaublich lecker. Total komplex und für einfach ein richtig richtig gute Mischung aus Frucht und Fass. Die Nase hat mich sofort abgeholt. Herzlichen Glückwunsch an jeden der hiervon eine Flasche hat.
Review by SaibotZtar
Leckerer Saint James Nase noch etwas zurückhaltend mit Frucht und milden Floralen noten. , Am Gaumen leichte Süße... Fruchtig und leicht Bitter alles schön ausgewogen und stimmig. Gefällt mir sehr gut ...
Review by crazyforgoodbooze
Very nice round Saint James, nice fruitiness, not too woody, slightly floral and salty spicy, as well as slightly sweet. I like it much better than the 2003 Brut de fut!
Review by Buddudharma
Toller St. James, von den 4 verkosteten Rums der Interessanteste. Intensität ist auf den Punkt, dazu ein schönes, nuanciertes Profil mit nicht zu viel Holz. Klasse!
Review by Santo
C'est vraiment dommage que l'alcool soit beaucoup trop présent tout du long, avec quelques degrés en moins il aurait été excellent
Review by Arthur Moreau
Légèrement trop floral pour un st James vieux à mon goût, agréables notes de boisé, en dessous du 2001 Velier a mon goût.
Review by Clément Boetto🤤🇫🇷
A truly excellent agricole! Very fruity and discreetly woody for a 20-year-old. A great success!
Review by Johannes
Sehr tolle Balance zwischen Bitterkeit, Fassnoten, Guyana-Diamond-Charakter und Fruchtigkeit.
Review by Mirco
mir eine Spur zu rauchig und verbrannt.
Review by Cédric Meyers
Longueur moyenne finissant sur le boisé, fût.
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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 Les amis des amis du Rhum
Read full review →
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 112 € – 145 €
from 3 sales, latest 08/2026
Prices incl. buyer's premium — what a buyer pays, not what a sale nets you.
Avg. community purchase price 99 €
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 V&B Saint James Brut de fût 2001
A Rhum Agricole AOC from Martinique, bottled by V&B, at 57,6%.
Community purchases
59 bottles logged by 48 collectors.
A drinker & collector.
25% opened, 5 emptied and repurchased.
What did the community pay for V&B Saint James Brut de fût 2001?
Community paid 90–105 €.
What members actually paid for their bottles. A typical range, not the current shop price. Full price & collection history in RX+ →
59 purchased · 57 tasted · 24 wishlist · as of
Read on in the RumX Guide
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La Confrérie du Rhum Saint James Brut de fût 2003
La Confrérie du Rhum Saint James Brut de fût 2003Heavy, woody Martinique agricole with dried fruit
Saint James Les Éphémères - N°6 2006
Saint James Les Éphémères - N°6 2006Fruity agricole that turns woody and tannic
V&B Saint James 2008
V&B Saint James 2008Dry, dark, chocolate-and-nut agricole at cask strength
Velier Saint James 70th Anniversary 2008
Velier Saint James 70th Anniversary 2008Dark, oaky cask-strength agricole that needs time
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I'm Oliver, and RumX began in 2018 as a small passion project in Stuttgart, back then under the name Rum Tasting Notes.
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