Aroma visualization from community tastings
Velier Damoiseau Full Proof 1980
Don't expect a grassy agricole — this drinks dark and heavy, closer to old-school Guyana than anything from Guadeloupe. Prunes, leather, coffee and dark chocolate pile up over oak, with a syrupy, almost oily body. The 60.3% barely shows; nearly everyone marvels at how seamlessly the alcohol sits. Give it time in the glass and it keeps unfolding. A long, faintly dry, mocha-heavy finish.
The community says- Perfect alcohol integration
- Deep complexity
- Endless mocha finish
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The look inside the bottle
How does Velier Damoiseau Full Proof 1980 taste?
Aggregated from 97 community reviews.
Dark, oily, complex old cask-strength Damoiseau A near-unanimous favorite: dense, complex and remarkably smooth for cask strength. A couple find it edging toward bitter, but most call it one of the best Guadeloupe rums they've had.
Experienced drinkers who love dark, dense, complex aged rum
Anyone expecting a light, grassy agricole
How the community classifies this rum. Each category takes you to similar rums.
Which glass for which rum? The community guide →
46 of 97 left detailed tasting impressions · Click an aroma to explore similar rums
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9.0/10446 €How is Velier Damoiseau Full Proof 1980 rated?
RumX’s 0–10 scale is strict: 9.2 sits in the “Excellent” band. 100% 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?
100% rate it 8 or higher. 40 selected write-ups from 97 community ratings. You can view the complete list in our app.
Review by Tschusikowsky
A comparison I've been looking forward to for a long time. The famous Velier bottling versus the direct bottling from Damoiseau. ABV of 60.3 is identical for both. Damoiseau is much darker in color. Damoiseau 1980 - direct bottling from the distillery Intense and dark on the nose, with plum, spicy wet wood, pome fruit, yellow fruit, vanilla and fine perfume notes of violets. There is also tropical fruit and a hint of cinnamon. The density and complexity are partly reminiscent of older Guyana bottlings, especially REV. The palate is warm, syrupy and oily with mint, some eucalyptus, cinnamon and plum again, accompanied by perfumed cedar wood. A firework of yellow fruits, apricot and chocolate. The long finish brings peach, chocolate and some apple, with a noticeable but pleasant tannin structure. Overall, an incredibly great rhum, sweeter and more syrupy than the Velier, with plenty to discover. Velier Damoiseau 1980 - Full Proof At the beginning, the alcohol is a little sharper on the nose, yet with beautiful plum and chocolate notes, combined with wet wood. With time, the rum opens up and brings more mango, passion fruit and tropical fruit fullness, plus pipe tobacco and a refreshing, tropical iced tea that takes you to Trinidad. Powerful but perfectly balanced on the palate, with notes of apricot, plum and an abundance of tropical fruit, underpinned by a very light association with cheese. The tannins are considerably lighter than in the direct bottling. The finish is very long and harmonious. Comparison Both rhums are at the highest level and offer enormous complexity and complexity that can be explored over the course of an entire evening. The direct bottling from Damoiseau comes across as an elegant, fruit-driven Guyana bottling with more sweetness, depth and tannin. The Velier bottling, on the other hand, shows its strengths in a tropical-fruity excellence, lighter in the tannins and with a brilliant balance. I would say in the end it is probably personal preference, there is no real winner for me. If I had to decide, Velier would be a tick ahead for me.
Review by Mirco
Absolute plank with impressive intensity and astonishing roundness at the same time. Fruit, spice, floral notes and wood are balanced and multi-layered. The alcohol is very well integrated and supports the powerful profile. I have stored the Damoiseau bottling in my memory almost identically - but a direct comparison is still pending.
Review by Galli33
You will smell a lot of lovely notes of leather, banana, pineapple, prunes, prunes… all of them you‘ll find in the mouth too. The alcohol and also the wood is integrated very well! The finish is long, dry with a dominant taste o mocha.. lie behind and enjoy! Update: After ca. 30 minutes of rest the rum open up completely. A bit more smell of the barrel, honey, cedar wood. It mouth there is less spice and more fruity/floral. There are so many different tastes 😍 Amazing experience. Unfortunately it’s to expensive now…
Review by Joachim Guger
On the nose, honey, vanilla, licorice, fused with a beautiful floral note.Really gets going in the mouth. Caramel, lots of wood, spices. Fat and oily.An epic finish follows...A great rum!
Review by Oliver
Concentrated, creamy, delicious. Exceptional!
Review by Jakob
Fantastic nose, complex spectrum that constantly offers new nuances, but at the same time has a recognizable punch. Opulent dark fruitiness, wood, spices, extreme depth. Excellent.
Review by Giorgio Garotti
The bottle that marked the transition to the decision to try to bottle more and more high grade rums! This damoiseau is an explosion of flavor! It is rich, intense and super concentrated! It literally sticks to your palate and you could taste it for hours! A gem given to you by this distillery!
Review by Serge
Again in blind tasting: still an absolute grenade with unearthly complexity and insane alcohol integration. Oh yes, really very tasty. It's amazing how concentrated it tastes. It's really worth sampling ... even if it's not the cheapest. A bit like a REV that speaks French.
Review by Kevin Sorensen 🇩🇰
The most amazing thing about this rum is how well they have integrated the ABV. You barely feel the ABV at all, wonder how they managed to do that :-) The nose is nice with fruit, oak and vanilla trailed by caramel, honey and nuts. I also get a very light note of grass. The palate extremely well balanced and complex. A very full bodied rum indeed. Fruit, oak and vanilla take the front trailed by caramel and honey. The finish is very long and intense with charred oak, spices, tobacco and dried fruit. A truly magnificent rum.
Review by Thunderbird
A rum with intense woodiness and fruit! Yet very balanced ... The alcohol is perfectly integrated.... A real pleasure!!!!!
Review by mto75
comes along almost oily, incredibly concentrated! On the nose, many spices, Maggi and nutmeg, also dried fruit, leather and wood barrel. The impression continues seamlessly on the palate, spices, dried fruit, toasty notes, mocha and clove on the finish. Guadeloupe at its best!
Review by tojo
An der Nase tolle Noten von getrockneten Früchten, Dörroflaume, hin zu würzig-holzigen Noten. Gepaart mit Honig, Vanille und einer rauchigen Note. Am Gaumen auch extraklasse. Hier noch stärker in Richtung Gewürze, Leder, Vanille und Lakritze. Ein echtes Highlight. Leider extrem rar und extrem teuer - Schade!
Review by Beach-and-Rum 🏖️🌴
1980 ist schon mal eine Ansage. Bisher hatte ich noch nichts vergleichbares im Glas. Eine Mischung aus Zuckerrohrsaft und Melasse. Super cremig, ausgewogen und komplex. Man kann immer wieder neue Komponenten wahrnehmen. Der Abgang ist lang und warm. Ich finde ihn grossartig. Vielen Dank Jakob für das Sample. Update: großartiger Rum. Noch besser als in meiner Erinnerung. Es geht nochmal 2 Punkte nach oben.
Review by Righrum
Simply, as of today, in my personal top 3 of rums I tried. Besides historical value (1st rum ever bottled full proof by Gargano,) this is an amazing rum, complexity and plenty of taste make this damoiseau almost perfect
Review by Leo Krüper
Slightly tamer and lighter compared to the original bottling. As a result, a little less volume and horniness.
Review by TheRhumhoe
Véritable légende parmi les rhums de Guadeloupe, ce Damoiseau embouteillé par Velier est une œuvre d’art. On tombe sur un nez démentiel qui exprime toute la complexité du jus. Le boisé se veut très noble, en accompagnement d’une farandole d’épices (vanille, muscade, cannelle, poivre, gingembre, réglisse) et des notes sombres très raffinées (chocolat noir, cacao, café, cuir, amande, tabac, notes rôties). Les fruits ne sont pas en reste : ananas, fruit de la passion, cassis, baies sauvages, fruits rouges, raisin sec et pruneau se relaient dans un profil lourd, complexe mais extrêmement élégant et rond. Le nez est bluffant, car il exulte la fraîcheur du menthol, de l’eucalyptus et des herbes aromatiques, mais il capte également toute la gourmandise de la canne à sucre, du caramel, du nougat, du toffee et du sucre brun. Un profil d’anthologie. En bouche, on retrouve un rhum lourd, complexe, qui tire sur le vieux cuir tanné, les notes sombres de cacao et de chocolat noir, de café et d’amande amère, rejointes par le tabac et le cigare. Les épices, toujours aussi abondantes, apportent de la vivacité au profil. Le boisé, très raffiné, est très bien fondu. Si on perd pas mal de notes fruitées, les fruits secs, raisin et pruneau en tête, continuent de sublimer le palais de leur délicatesse et de leur gourmandise. Des notes d’herbes aromatiques sur le thé noir et le menthol confèrent un peu de fraîcheur. L’alcool est intégré à la perfection. Un profil extrêmement varié, très riche et élégant qui ne peut que ravir les fans de rhum. La finale, extraordinaire de par sa longueur et sa finesse, est particulièrement intense, légèrement amère mais très délicate. Les saveurs en bouche collent au palais et laissent une trame sombre prospérer, à la fois sur le bois précieux, le chocolat noir, le café, le cuir, les fruits secs, les épices et des touches mielleuses de caramel qui se mêlent aux arômes plus floraux sur le thé noir et les herbes. Un rhum de prestige absolument divin, qui peut se considérer comme le nectar des Dieux de par sa profondeur, sa complexité et sa nature si distinguée.
Review by Johannes
Wow! Phantastischer Rum! Wunderbare Balance zwischen Holz und Frucht! Große Klasse!
Review by crazyforgoodbooze
Super exciting profile but a little too bitter for me personally. It's therefore not quite enough for a 9+ rating. But the profile with the concentrated dried plum, tobacco, leather and mocha is really extremely tasty and exciting!
Review by zabo
Somehow my head was spinning last night from so many great things in the glass. I've never had so many "Excellent" awards as I did that evening. What an epic round of insanely great rums. Thank you Jakob.
Review by Thomas Wille
Hammer Stoff - gleiches Level wie der Damoiseau 1980 - außergewöhnlich gut
Review by Maxence
Amazing nose with an impressive balance between sweetness and dark notes from the barrel. Mouth is still very good and well balanced but more funky and fruity. An excellent rum overall 👍
Review by Jarek
Franconian Rum Tasting Gang & Jakob, 2023-07-27 Part 3: I've been trying to get my hands on a bottle of Damoiseau 1980 for a long time without having tasted the rum first. But now, after the tasting, I will probably have to step up my efforts 😉.
Review by Tom Buteneers
Rich, complex creamy layers with subtle stonefruit flavors, old wood, next to perfect integration and an almost neverending intense finish with coffee/mocha. Every time smelling and sipping it was an endulging delight..
Review by Manuel
What a great and complex rum. Anyone who has the opportunity to get hold of a sample should not hesitate. Very intense on the nose with a slightly sweetish note that is also found in the finish. Otherwise very vanilla-like as well as notes of banana and spices. Extremely long finish.
Review by Alexander Rasch
From my RumRating 3y ago: You can tell that this rhum is not a classic Agricole Rhum. I let the rhum breathe for 60min out of respect. Then he seemed to open up completely. What comes next is impressive. Vanilla, caramel, fruity notes with honey and oak barrels. Heavy and dark. But also light with grassy aromas. Wow. That's impressive. On the palate, the rhum is very mild for 60.3% and the alcohol is perfectly integrated. Again, the rhum is full-bodied and comes with vanilla, peach and other fruity flavors. But also oak and honey. and some nice Agricole notes. But not much. There are also heavy elements. There is a lot to discover and 2cl is sadly not enough for that Mission. The finish is intense and long. The rhum is dry but never bitter. An amazingly good rhum. I am grateful that i had the chance to try this masterpiece. That little sip of Rhum history. Not a typical Agricole. But it doesn't matter here. Just awesome. Unfortunately priceless.
Review by Jakob Mmmmhhh
This is excellent— it reminds me a bit of the La Flibuste 2000 — maybe a bit less sweet but more intense. It’s a dark caramel type of Agricole, with a beautiful and very elegant nose. The palate fully resembles it and the finish is fantastic and lingers forever. I’ll certainly will have to come back to this and take more time with it. It’s fantastic, absolutely exceptional — but rating it is a bit hart as of yet. My impression is a 92 — it’s among the greats, and it’s exceptionalism is immediately perceivable, but it’s not the greatest style for me personally, though it’s making mei really love it. Lets see what the future will bring
Review by Stylo
For my 100th tasting, something truly special had to be opened! It all starts with this wonderful caramel color, with this oily texture. The nose is sooo complex: there’s the vanilla and the wood from the barrel, then tons of leather, followed by a refreshing mint in the background. The fruity note mainly appears to me as prunes, almost dried sweet prunes. Then more spices, like nutmeg. On the palate, as other already notices, the alcohol is truly well integrated..I’d never tell it a 60+ ABV. You get a more roasted note, like coffee and burnt wood, then dried fruits and still a hint of freshness lingering in the throat. The finish is long, slightly dry, with more coffee, dried fruits, wood and spices. This is truly a remarkable experience. so sad that this gems are now rare and expensive
Review by Michal S
Výrazně lepší chuť než vůně, ve vůni dominují medicinské tóny, v chuti hodně ovoce, velmi příjemný dojezd.
Review by Buddudharma
Rundherum wunderbar. Etwas floraler als die 60%-Variante von Damoiseau, mit toller Komplexität und fantastisch integriertem Alkohol.
Review by Business Liner Ralf
Hammer! Das ich diesen heute probieren durfte, einfach hervorragend!
Review by Piotr Ignasiak
Great balance and complexity, with dried fruit and pleasant presence of wood notes.
Review by Émile Shevek
Al naso è inebriante con note di liquirizia, caffe tostato, cacao, pelle, arrostito, prugne, melassa e qualche estere. Al palato caffè tostato, cacao, salsa bbq/arrostito, cuoio, nocciole tostate, dove si aggiunge anche la menta su un finale infinito (dopo mezz'ora e dopo aver fumato sento ancora la bocca impastata e il mentolato che risale anche nel naso). Perfettamente rotondo, caloroso, avvolgente, confortante, una vera esperienza sensoriale. Capisco perché Luca Gargano si sia sorpreso assaggiandolo la prima volta. Nel bicchiere vuoto arrostito e legno. Thank you very much JakobM per questa opportunità
Review by Léo Delek
Still the same caramelized sugar/drum syrup with stone fruit as the 1989, but this time more red fruit (cherry ++). There are also a lot more empyreumatic notes, with quite a bit of leather. Very well-integrated alcohol.
Review by Gianca Zil
Che dire… una garanzia… da bere e ribere… e quella nota di prugna io la amo!! Paragonato al 1991 forse ha un naso con un bouquet più ristretto. Nel complesso comunque è una meraviglia , 60,3 gradi e l’alcool così ben integrato! Credo sia un dei miei rum preferiti. Inattaccabile.
Review by Oli Hollister
mielleux, fruits secs, tabac, cuir, intense Ça rempli bien chaque millimètre carré de mon palais. Très bon rhum mais trop cher aujourd’hui
Review by Filip Šikula
Už při nálevání doskleničky je citít, že toto bude opravdu jedinečné. Nádhermá vůně plná tabáku, čaje, kůže medu a koření. Chuť je intenzivní, komplexní a se závěrem, který si budu dloho a dlouho pamatovat. Nádhera.
Review by Arnaud Faverjon
Une expérience assez unique, d’une noirceur et d’une profondeur vraiment impressionnante, c’est lourd et complexe, ce n’est clairement pas un rhum de tous les jours, mais vraiment un beau moment!
Review by Pierangelo Pianta
Wow , wow, wow Polline, cera d’api, legno Intenso , mega persistente Assaggiato 1 anni fa E l’emozione ritorna … Wow
Review by Adrianv
My first Damoiseau, interesting on nose, esters and fruits, complex on palate, dried fruits, oak, cofee, leather, all in harmony, very good rum
Review by RumRhush
Rhum magnifique, très complexe, du fruits, grue de cacao, café, épices une très belle longueur tout y est une belle émotion
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Expert reviews
5 critics scored it, averaging 9.2/10. Reviews from RumX's blog partners, independent experts who have tasted, evaluated, and described this rum..
Expert review by Single Cask Rum
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Expert review by Who Rhum The World
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Expert review by Préférence Rhum
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Expert review by Tasting Bro's
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Expert review by Rob Bauer
One of the best Guadeloupe rums. Top 5 rums
Expert review by The Dunder Hut
This damoiseau is a killer rum. It is intense beyond recognition and gets woody in the way of old school Guyana rums of the 70s but it still remains a staple of damoiseaus portfolio. They are all good but his is probably my favourite
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 530 € – 893 €
from 17 sales, latest 09/2026
Prices incl. buyer's premium — what a buyer pays, not what a sale nets you.
Avg. community purchase price 732 €
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 Velier Damoiseau Full Proof 1980
A Column Still Rum from Guadeloupe, bottled by Velier, at 60,3%.
Community purchases
77 bottles logged by 60 collectors.
A collector's bottle.
15% opened, 4 emptied and repurchased.
What does Velier Damoiseau Full Proof 1980 cost?
Community paid 232–851 €.
Current best price: 849.00 € – 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+ →
77 purchased · 100 tasted · 60 wishlist · as of
Read on in the RumX Guide
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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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