Aroma visualization from community tastings
V&B Saint James Brut de Fût (Sélection du Chai) 2009
"Erstaunlich viel Holz" is how one taster put it, and that's the through-line here: this cask-strength Saint James agricole leans hard on oak, dark chocolate, leather and warm spice like allspice and nutmeg. A green, grassy cane edge and faint red fruit peek through, but wood runs the show. Several found it balanced and very drinkable; a few wished for more fruit.
The community says- Balanced profile
- Dark chocolate
- But: Very woody
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The look inside the bottle
How does V&B Saint James Brut de Fût (Sélection du Chai) 2009 taste?
Aggregated from 36 community reviews.
Oak-driven, spicy old Martinique agricole Most people call this a well-balanced, classic old Saint James — heavy on oak, chocolate and spice. The common gripe is it could use more fruit and sweetness to round it out.
Fans of woody, spice-forward aged agricole
Anyone wanting a fruity, sweet, mild pour
How the community classifies this rum. Each category takes you to similar rums.
Which glass for which rum? The community guide →
16 of 36 left detailed tasting impressions · Click an aroma to explore similar rums
Recommendation
Your next rum
One difference each to this rum.
More intense
Saint James Les Ephémères - N°1 2001
8.8/10295 €
Fruitier
Excellence Rhum Saint James Brut de Fût (Excellence Rhum's 10th Anniversary) 2006
8.5/10119 €First choice: 16 of 24 tasters who tried both prefer it.
How is V&B Saint James Brut de Fût (Sélection du Chai) 2009 rated?
RumX’s 0–10 scale is strict: 8.6 sits in the “Very good” 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?
97% rate it 8 or higher. 19 selected write-ups from 36 community ratings. You can view the complete list in our app.
Review by Kevin Sorensen 🇩🇰
Most helpful positive review
#4806 09.08.2024 Relaxing with some samples. Nose Balanced, fruits, apple, dried fruit, light roasted wood, spice, light vegetal. Palate Oily, round, balanced, light vegetal, faint earthy, wood, light nutts, dried fruit, faint orange, light grass. Finish Medium long, oily, wood, light roasted, medium dry, spice, light grass, faint orange, dried fruit. The empty glass has nice chocolate, faint leather and light herbal notes.
Review by Yogi Baer
Most helpful mixed review
In der Nase grüne Frucht, etwas gärig, holzig, lederig, intensiv würzig, dezent schokoladig. Im Mund erstmal scharf alkoholisch, unreife Frucht, Röst- und Holznoten sowie Gewürze treten dann in den Vordergrund. Im Abgang noch etwas scharf und trocken, dann differenzieren sich die herbwürzigen Aromen und der bis jetzt sehr zurückhaltende Agricolecharakter tritt mit Vegetalität von grasigen Noten, einem Hauch Eukalyptus bis zu leicht bitterem Schwarztee, mehr in den Vordergrund.
Review by Rodolphe
A robust, woody nose, quite typical but, at the same time, rather elegant. Spicy praline mixed with oak. Behind it all, a discreet fruity edge. The alcohol is very well integrated on the nose, reminiscent of a 50% proof whisky. On the palate, it's spicy and woody, with a real St James flavour. But really, if you like this profile, it's a great rum at a great price. I don't rate it 90+ because it's still a little too woody for my personal tastes, but it's really very good!
Review by RumTaTa
Beautiful dark color in the glass. Nose: impressively intense and balanced: fruity, woody and agricole 😊 On the palate there is also no doubt that this is an Agricole, but with a lot of barrel influence and 95% chocolate. Still not unpleasant. Slightly bitter in the medium-long finish but within limits Very good rum, more accessible and more continuous on the palate and aftertaste than Madame Jeanne no.2 which I tasted yesterday
Review by Thunderbird
This is a very balanced Agricole from SJ... the balance of wood, spice and vegetal flavors is very well done. Minimal fruit also appears! I find it very successful and harmonious
Review by Timo Groeger
Und als vorletztes einen wieder richrig geilen Agricole, gibt da schon echt recht geile Teile. Holz und Würze sind auch hier erkennbar, außerdem ne Runde dunkle Schokolade sowie Vanille, Leder, Piment umd Muskatnuss.
Review by Righrum
This rum does have a profile much more driven by spices than usual saint James, especially pimento and pepper. The wood in the nose is less noticeable but the result is pretty strange, recalling some wood cleaning product, while drinking it has again the usual Saint James profile. A pretty decent St James, not overoaked. Edit: tried again, a little increase in my score. The nose now shows also some red fruits, cherries especially, that complete well the profile.
Review by zabo
Anyone who knows me by now knows that I am not necessarily a fan of Agricole rums, but this one is not bad at all, in my opinion very well balanced and without a trace of the soapy notes that I dislike.
Review by Johannes
Surprisingly much wood. I think it lacks some fruitiness for balance.
Review by Vincent D
I was expecting the kind of woody nose that St James makes. In the end, it's much finer than that. Woody for sure. But also fruity and vegetal. It's very appealing. On the palate, wood first. Very frank. Leathery. The alcohol is there. Very discreet fruit, chocolate too. Vanilla. Long, delicate finish. I was expecting a strong bitterness, but in the end, tobacco and caramel notes remain. Very good!
Review by Émile Shevek
The SJ profile is recognizable on the nose; it is intense with milk chocolate, wood/barrel, dried fruits (and maybe some red), leather almost leaning toward roasted, salted caramel, warm spices and some vegetal; if left to rest even some citrus. The palate is warm, enveloping and full-bodied with leather, wood, spice, tobacco and chocolate. In the medium-long finish some dry fruit and other unripe reds, vegetables and vanilla. Very good and interesting with a fair roundness. Thanks to Dr.Django.
Review by Maxime Clr 🇫🇷
Classic Saint James profile with a beautiful nose of noble wood, spices, green apple and a hint of leather. The palate follows the nose with spices, wood and dark chocolate. Great length, great bottle!
Review by bossi
Fresh sugar cane and grassy aromas at the beginning, quickly replaced by coffee, leather and a lot of oak, a pleasant bitterness. A good rum, but I have drunk better SJs.
Review by crazyforgoodbooze
Overall rather "classic" and typical profile for an old agricole. Round but not a highlight. Not particularly exceptional or complex but easy to drink.
Review by Morgan Garet
Très bon agricole hors d'âge mais il manque tout de même de gourmandise à mon goût même après ouverture. Manque de notes fruitées ou pâtissières.
Review by Pavel Ungr, RumRock
Ročník 2009. S 8,7 z 10 patří k tomu lepšímu, co se mi dostalo do skleničky.
Review by Frederik
Mit einem Duft von Eiche, Leder und Gewürzen wie Piment und Muskatnuss, in Kombination mit vegetabilen Noten präsentiert sich dieser Rum von Saint James mit angenehmen 56,5 %Vol. im Glas. Am Gaumen etwas frisches, grasiges mit trockenem Leder, dunkler Schokolade und roten, getrockneten Früchten. Im mittleren Abgang dominiert das trockene Gefühl mit Vanille und roten Beeren. Insgesamt ein schöner Agricole, ohne groß aus der Reihe zu tanzen.
Review by Nicolas Pantaloni
The caramel and wood on the nose give way to fruits au bois, but with a rather marked solvent component, I think. To be seen on a future tasting if this impression persists.
Review by Harald
Farbe: Goldbraun Geruch: Riecht aromatisch nach Mon Cherie - Schokolade und Kirschlikör. Fruchtig und holzig, Tee und Kräuter. Der Alkohol ist gut eingebunden. Geschmack: Im Mund würzig, alkoholisch und scharf. Beim Schlucken vollmundig und kräftig nach dunkler Schokolade. Würzig, holzig und kräuterig. Abgang: Lang, trocken und wärmend. Dabei sehr holzig. Zudem würzig mit Kräutern. Im Nachgeschmack trocken und holzig-bitter.
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Live auctions
Current bids for this rum at Europe's leading auction houses.
Market value
Avg. community purchase price 77 €
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 (Sélection du Chai) 2009
A Rhum Agricole from Martinique, bottled by V&B, at 56,5%.
Community purchases
47 bottles logged by 34 collectors.
A drinker & collector.
21% opened, 5 emptied and repurchased.
What did the community pay for V&B Saint James Brut de Fût (Sélection du Chai) 2009?
Community paid 72–110 €.
What members actually paid for their bottles. A typical range, not the current shop price. Full price & collection history in RX+ →
+5 purchases in the last 3 months.
Added to collections, last 12 months — dark bars are the last 3.
47 purchased · 36 tasted · 14 wishlist · as of
Read on in the RumX Guide
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J. Bally Brut de fût 2007Woody, spicy aged agricole for neat sipping
Depaz Private Cask (Rumclub Private Selection) 2010
Depaz Private Cask (Rumclub Private Selection) 2010Rounded, fruity aged agricole with spice
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