Aroma visualization from community tastings
Bellevue RA Guadeloupe SFGB 1998
"The most unusual nose I've had so far" is a common reaction here. This 1998 Bellevue goes hard on citrus — lemon peel, kumquat, mandarin — layered with black tea, anise, herbs and dry oak. Several tasters blind-guessed an agricole. A "sunny holiday in a glass" for some; too bitter, medicinal or "too anise" for others. Firey at 59.4%.
The community says- Vivid citrus/kumquat
- Complex, unusual
- Anise divides people
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The look inside the bottle
How does Bellevue RA Guadeloupe SFGB 1998 taste?
Aggregated from 95 community reviews.
Citrus-and-herb bomb, unlike any Bellevue A wildly atypical Bellevue that splits people: many find the citrus-herb-tea profile fascinating and beautifully integrated, while a few find it bitter, medicinal or too anise-forward to love.
People chasing unusual, citrus-forward aged rum with herbal complexity
Anyone wanting a classic sweet Bellevue or put off by anise and bitterness
How the community classifies this rum. Each category takes you to similar rums.
52 of 95 left detailed tasting impressions · Click an aroma to explore similar rums
How is Bellevue RA Guadeloupe SFGB 1998 rated?
RumX’s 0–10 scale is strict: 8.5 sits in the “Very good” band. 92% of tasters rate it Good or better; only 0% rate it below average. See the full rating guide →
Live auctions
Current bids for this rum at Europe's leading auction houses.
Community voices
What does the community say?
15% rate it between 6 and 8. 19 selected write-ups from 95 community ratings. You can view the complete list in our app.
Review by Galli33
Most helpful positive review
One of the top 5 rums i tried on the german rum festival. Very delicious rum with all the lovely wooden, dried fruits, anise armomas paired with a nice lemon peal note. It has a clear wood note without being astringend in mouth/tongue. The alcohol is integrated very well. For me the best of all RA rums showed on the festival.
Review by Jackie Flannery
Most helpful critical review
Blindtaste: Two 1998 vintage Bellevues. Kill Devil 20yrs 58,6% (exclusively for TWB) Rum Artesanal 24yrs 59,4% C: - (used a painted copita) N: 5min. Intense liquorish and fake lemon smell. Makes me think of Lemon candy slice. 20min. Right! More of the same. Lots of candy-fake lemons and tangerine. Is this “lemon-ester”? No, ester is something else, but its pungent all the same. M: A bit uninspired and sour. Very similar to when lemons are getting spoiled. In the background there is something that could be oak, coffee and burnt sugar but the bitterness overtakes most of the taste. Without even tasting the Kill Devil I know this must be the RA. An easy one! F: Long and bitter. B: No Btw For a rum ARTESANAL, the smell is rather artificial and fake. Funny you!
Review by Gunnar Böhme "Bauerngaumen" 🤓
I'm beginning to doubt myself: most of the rums I've tasted recently have been rated by me with well over 80 points. Did they really have such a high level of quality objectively? With this rum, however, I'm pretty sure and have no doubts: Yes, this is something fine! A lovely Caribbean dream. Very interesting notes already in the nose, wonderful exotic-fruity impression. I think I'll have to get another bottle.Rating: sweet.Update 2022-12-09:Yesssss, the rum just puts a smile on my face. 😊 Anise and kumquat notes dominate very nicely today. Delicious!
Review by Rodolphe
Tonight's second blind tasting. At first I loved the nose, quite incredible. It's like putting your nose in a candied citrus cake. Incredible. On the palate, however, it's a different story. I found it very nauseating, very bitter, herbaceous mixed with citrus. But it's clearly too citrusy for me, even though I like it. The mouthfeel is a bit nauseating, I don't really appreciate it. Too bad, because the nose was just incredible, the alcohol too well integrated! (I couldn't guess where it came from on a blind taste test).
Review by Jakob
Already in the nose waits a very own green note, reminiscent of tart herbs and unripe vegetables. On the palate more balanced, tea, wood, fennel, spices - thereby overall extremely dry and thus rather on the tart side. Even if the Bellevue DNA remains recognizable, it is a rather unusual representative of the 98 batch with a clear impact on the herbaceous-green side.
Review by Christian Rudt
Second chance for this rum. At the German Rumfestival last year he could not score with me. Thanks @Mto for the sample And now? At first fresh nose I'm crushed by orange juice but somehow not from delicious freshly squeezed but rather Tetra Pak.On the palate then more towards citrus and in the finish light tobacco notes.Thereby overall predominantly dry. So I do not know but sometimes the first impression is the right one. This rum and I will not be great friends.🤷🏻♂️Aber the attempt was worth it
Review by ...and a bottle of Rum.
From a 5cl Sample in two sessions: Smelling the sample bottle immediately revealed a citrusy freshness. And a profile not unlike the Berry Bros 19yo. Once in the glass this changed completely. The citrus got dialed up at least two notches. The similarity is gone – not only to the Berry Bros but to all other 98 Bellevue I know. Reminds me of smelling Citronat while a bunch of cloves is nearby. The Taste is also very citrus forward, as if a whole lemon was dropped in the cask. But it's the slighlty bitter taste of lemon peel, rather than the meat. Quite firey/stingy from. the alcohol on both occasions. Finish is medium long, without any notable additions to the profile. Not my cup of tea. I prefer the "normal" 98 Bellevues. Edit: The empty glass smells like it should. No lemon peel here.
Review by crazyforgoodbooze
Absolutely not expecting this mega blatant citrus bomb on the nose! The slightly incidental aniseed note is a little irritating but fortunately only on the nose. The whole thing is complemented by leather, dark chocolate and light tobacco and menthol notes... Great Guadeloupe 98 but the Royal Cane is still a tick better! In PLV comparison, however, the RA is almost unbeatable for about 90€ 0.5L.
Review by Buddudharma
Wicked mixture of lemon and wood. Interesting, but not 100% my profile.
Review by Oliver
Extremely unusual rum. Great blend of citrus, wood and herbs. I like it really well!
Review by Émile Shevek
Al naso è fresco e balsamico, molto agrumato (a momenti sembra di odorare un Grand Marnier) con cardamomo, pelle e legno in sottofondo. Al palato la pelle umami e il legno sono quasi in primo piano insieme al lato balsamico/mentolato di anice, finocchio, pino e liquirizia seguito da una nota vegetale, sempre tanti agrumi misti, una nota secca di tè nero che si unisce alle spezie (cardamomo) e a qualche frutto dolce, fino al finale che resta abbastanza persistente. Abv pertettamente integrato, ma il profilo aromatico non fa per me
Review by Dr.Django
A small comparison between two rums from the already widespread and often appreciated Bellevue 1998. The alcohol is very well integrated in both, and both are very intense on the palate with licorice, herbs, wood and citrus notes. The finish is medium long and oily warm. From the nose to the finish, I perceive an interesting cola-herbal aroma. Very interesting, it reminds me a little of cola water ice or a cola with fresh herbs that has been stale in the sun. The aroma profile is very similar, the RA is a little fresher and fruitier, whereas the RareFind is more woody and chocolatey. They don't take much from the points. 83 pts
Review by Pavel Spacek
Omg, that taste is realy weird. I dont know if it is just weird or I dont like it. Mint and anise...
Review by LukaŽiga
9:On the nose, the first impression is very citrusy with lemon, orange peel, mandarine, grapefruit, as it is also woody with a spice like anise.The cane is vegetal with herbs, tea and there is feeling of a plastic. On aeration, the cane is darker with licorice, the wood roasted with caramel.The fruits are dried, green and from citrus, kumquat stands out, some flowery notes pop up. 8,9:On the palate, the attack is creamy, dry, woody with spices like anise and vanilla, charred with caramel, butterscotch, nuts.The citrus notes are still strong with lemon, later lime peel, orange. The other fruits are dried with apricots. The cane is herbal, later there is black tea, tobacco, flowery notes.The taste is quite intense, but still pleasant, round, especially when berries could be tasted and if well rested, even spruce tops. 9:The finish is long, creamy with toasted, roasted wood notes, dry, spicy, a bit earthy and fruity with citrus, green and dried fruits...the cane brings tobacco.
Review by Vinsdorf
Sorry but not for me. Quite plastic taste - like fresh, citrus, pine tree. I will give it another try but…
Review by RumTaTa
Second tasting: crass, this kumquat in the nose and on the palate!The nose is stunning! Goes easily into the medical, possibly cough syrup!? In addition, I still perceive rose oil. I don't know anything like that from 98 Bellevue (I have the Kill Devil, RX773 for comparison).On the palate I experience a crazy complexity and balance at the same time! The spices, fruit, herbs, heather honey and wood influence are all present but none predominates.The aftertaste flies unfortunately faster than I like, only a trace of cocoa and oak remains long and makes you want more.Blind I would not have guessed here on a rum! This is m.M.n. the sensation among the third RA bottlings in 2022 and for Guadeloupe/Bellevue anyway. In addition, the P / L ratio is right.
Review by Johannes
A very good Bellevue that stands out with a nice refreshing citrus note!
Review by TheRhumhoe
Un rhum au profil extrêmement parfumé et envoûtant. Le nez est un festival de fleurs, d’herbes aromatiques et de menthol, donnant une fraîcheur extraordinaire pour un rhum aussi vieux. Les agrumes sont également extrêmement présents. Les zestes d’orange et de citron apportent de la gourmandise et de la profondeur. Il y a également une petite note de fruits rouges qui s’estompe au fur et à mesure. Le bois et les épices se veulent plus secondaires mais se fondent bien à l’ensemble. Un nez des plus charmants et élégants. L’attaque en bouche s’effectue relativement en douceur pour le degré d’alcool. On reste sur des notes à dominante florale, herbeuse et parfumée, avec du thé noir notamment. Les épices chaudes se conjuguent très bien à l’acidité des agrumes et des fruits exotiques. On retrouve un rhum très suave, un peu épais, savoureux et très original. La finale est très longue, encore portée par les agrumes, les notes herbeuses et florales. Des notes rôties, du cuir et des épices viennent en embuscade. Un très bel exemple de rhum qui a conservé sa fraîcheur au fil des ans avec un profil des plus aromatiques. Chapeau à Rum Artesanal pour la sélection. Le rapport qualité / prix est excellent.
Review by Alex1981
Well what is this? The most unusual nose & taste I had so far in my rum journey. Tea, citrus, herbs, anis, fennel… i was about to say this is bad, but somehow it still works and brings it all together to a niceely integrated & complex result. Need to revisit it again with some more time.
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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 Zucker und Zeste
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Details about Bellevue RA Guadeloupe SFGB 1998
A Column Still Rum from Guadeloupe, bottled by Heinz Eggert GmbH, at 59,4%.
Community purchases
80 bottles logged by 51 collectors.
A drinker & collector.
22% opened, 10 emptied and repurchased.
What did the community pay for Bellevue RA Guadeloupe SFGB 1998?
Community paid 86–110 €.
What members actually paid for their bottles. A typical range, not the current shop price. Full price & collection history in RX+ →
80 purchased · 99 tasted · 31 wishlist · as of
About the Bellevue distillery
The Bellevue distillery is located in Guadeloupe. Rums from Bellevue have been reviewed 1,412 times with an average of 8.5/10.
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