Aroma visualization from community tastings
Velier Long Pond Vale Royal VRW 2006
Most tasters land in the same happy place: this is the tamest, most drinkable of Velier's Long Pond series, and that's the appeal. Expect vanilla, dark chocolate, ripe tropical fruit and gentle glue-and-solvent funk rather than an ester bomb. A few call it a touch too sweet or wish for a longer, more intense finish, but the 62.5% is so well buried most forget it's there.
The community says- Alcohol perfectly hidden
- Chocolate and tropical fruit
- But: Slightly sweet
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The look inside the bottle
How does Velier Long Pond Vale Royal VRW 2006 taste?
Aggregated from 170 community reviews.
Soft, chocolatey low-ester Long Pond Widely liked as the softest, roundest Long Pond of the set — chocolate, tropical fruit and light funk with the alcohol beautifully hidden. Some want more intensity and complexity.
People wanting an easier way into Jamaican Long Pond funk
Fans chasing full high-ester intensity
How the community classifies this rum. Each category takes you to similar rums.
Which glass for which rum? The community guide →
74 of 170 left detailed tasting impressions · Click an aroma to explore similar rums
Recommendation
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One difference each to this rum.
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Velier Long Pond Cambridge STC❤️E 2010
8.7/10156 €
Similar rating, cheaper
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8.6/10122 €First choice: 31 of 33 tasters who tried both prefer it.
How is Velier Long Pond Vale Royal VRW 2006 rated?
RumX’s 0–10 scale is strict: 8.7 sits in the “Very good” band. 99% 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?
95% rate it 8 or higher. 49 selected write-ups from 170 community ratings. You can view the complete list in our app.
Review by Skyfly
Delicious low-ester rum with hints of a Foursquare. On the nose, vanilla clearly dominates, alongside very fruity notes, lots of glue, and a bit of wood. On the palate, lots of tropical fruits, wood stronger than on the nose; alongside vanilla and dark chocolate. The finish is very woody with burnt sugar. The high ABV is well integrated.
Review by Mirko Frosini 🇮🇪
I love Long Pond distillery!Vale Royal is the least pronounced as scents. It is a depowered version of the Long Pond TECA or TECC. This bottle is a reissue from a Jamaican distillery that has now been closed for decades.On the nose we smell solvents, spices including vanilla, chocolate and marzipan or otherwise pastry and a slight roastiness.On the palate we always have dark chocolate, nail polish or solvents, pastry, woody notes and always a slight peanut roastiness. I also seem to detect a faint note of tar on the palate.The finish is medium-long with hints of grape/ lychee.ABV beautifully integrated, better than its big brothers!A nice tasting rum well balanced, but with a strong character!
Review by Clément Boetto🤤🇫🇷
The least strong in Ester of the series, which gives it a wonderful balance between fruit,vanilla, chocolate,cocoa and oak with a perfectly integrated alcohol 🤤
Review by crazyforgoodbooze
Very relaxed Long Pond. Passion fruit, dark chocolate, caramel, and vanilla with glue and marzipan on the nose. On the palate, a bit spicier and woodier than expected, with a nice dark cocoa note, vanilla seeds, passion fruit, and flying mango. The finish is a bit more bitter with grapefruit peel, raisin, glue, star anise, and licorice, along with lightly roasted wood and barrel notes and a subtle sourness... Overall, it could be a bit rounder and more complex; the Valynch 2006 clearly has the edge here. Still, an absolutely solid representative from the VRW brand!
Review by Galli33
Lovely long pond! Very pleasant to drink. I would say perfect for a beginner to start into the wonderfull world of rum. The alcohol is integrated very well. PN this is a low ester rum! I see this one a couple of points behind the TECA. Nose: delicious, solvents, ester, nail polish, trop. fruits, overripe fruits, fruity, mango pineapple, sweet, caramel, marzipan, cherry wood, vanilla, roasted nuts, hazelnut Mouth: dry, astringend, delicious, full bodied, creamy, balanced, funky, alcoholic, ester, solvents, fruity, trop. fruits, pineapple, oak(barrel), roasted nuts, peppery, leather, dark chocolate, caramel Finish: medium, dry, brandy, burnt sugar, fruity, oak(barrel), nutty, chocolate
Review by Joachim Guger
Ein richtig guter Jamaicaner mit wenig Estern. Nuss, getrocknete Früchte, schöne Lösungsmittel, toter Hund (aber von der guten Sorte 😀😀😀). Braucht 1-2h im Glas um sich zu öffnen. Morgen ein gesuchtes Sammlerstück. Die Musik dazu: Lennie Hibbert „Real Hot“. Edit: Nach langer Zeit wieder mal im Glas. Toller Long Pond.
Review by SaibotZtar
Tried again . Corrected 2 pts upwards. 👍🏻 Very tasty VRW ... the tropical storage is simply unmistakable! Very tasty neat as a blend in Mai Tai, it really shows off its strengths.
Review by Richard Krupa
Estery jsem citil jeste druhy den. Silny, dobry
Review by Basti
Probably the most accessible rum in the NRJ range. Quite round with a slightly bitter/metallic finish. Alcohol perfectly integrated. Edit: Crosstasting Long Pond 2005/2006: Although low ester, in direct comparison the Vale Royal brings the most ester markers in the form of solvent and glue. Everything is discreet and cannot be compared with the high ester representatives. There is also a lot of tropical fruit, spices and some chocolate.
Review by Oliver
Needs time in the glass. Wonderful low-ester rum. Very good!
Review by Giorgio Garotti
Despite being the rum with the least esters in the series it is really a very good rum! I love these long ponds! This series of 4 rums is incredibly good!!!
Review by Maxence
A very expressive one with surprising round notes and loads of fruits of course. Love it 😊
Review by LukaŽiga
8,7:On the nose, medicinal notes bump into our nosetrils like esters and glue, with fruits like mango, pineapple and roasted wood notes like chocolate, marzipan, caramel and leather. On aeration, the wood is spicier with vanilla, baking spices, a molasses a bit vegetal, there are new fruits like yellow and currants, as tempting notes of pastry and honey are detected, some solvents and rubber. 8,9:On the palate, the attack is diverse and funky with tropical fruits like pineapple, mango, esters and solvents, roasted, spicy wood with pastry, marzipan and vanilla, pepper.It comes out a bit astringent.With new wave of notes, it becomes round and delicious, creamy with citrus, yellow fruits, currants, banana, then dark chocolate, toffee, leather and a bit herbaceous, slightly bitter. 8,7:The finish is long, with at first dry and tannic roasted wood and its notes, a bit smoky, then fruity with tropical and dried fruits, grapes, as molasses is a bit dark with a licorice, slightly herbaceous... Edit:16.5.25, confirm the grade
Review by Leo Krüper
Usual strong Velier Long Pond. Tasted with the RX11914, HV LP VRW 2006 for Singapore. Significantly more drinkable and rounder than the HV. And of course incredibly cheaper for a similar base product.
Review by Serge
Very Tasty. Lighter version of the Long Pond heavyweights, which is really fun and uncomplicated. But also already significantly more ester than the lighter Marks.
Review by Timo Groeger
Oh man, rum can be so delicious. This one is really impressive on the nose and palate. Is there any alcohol in it at all? A little sugar I would guess, but never mind, really top you beginners:] 193 tastes :)
Review by Mirco
A successful Long Pond with a pleasantly restrained ester profile. Fermented fruit, banana, some citrus and a warm woody note on the nose. Round and balanced on the palate, spicy with dry oak, light fruit sweetness and a subtle funk note that blends in well. The ABV provides plenty of pressure without overpowering the profile. Overall, a nice Jamaican, clearly recognizable Long Pond, but pleasantly balanced and not too estery.
Review by Kevin Sorensen 🇩🇰
This was a nice surprise especially because the proof has been so well integrated into this well balanced rum. A full bodied rum with all the funk that Jamaica has to offer. If you want to step up this one you'd have to go for the Cambridge 2005 :-) Price to quality is OK.
Review by TheRhumhoe
A very expressive and balanced Jamaican rum, which offers tropical fruits, notes of solvents, ester and glue, pastry, spicy and leather flavors on the nose, a nice and balanced bouquet. There are funky notes on the palate with esters and solvents, some sweetness with tropical fruits, syrupy notes with gingerbread, dark chocolate and vanilla, spices, wood and leather, as well as toasted notes. The rum is very round, creamy and intense, the alcohol is very well integrated. The finish is more turned on fresh and herbal notes, with a bitterness brought by licorice and anise, a touch of chocolate, wood and fruits. A very nice Jamaican nugget.
Review by Santo
When the rum airs out a little, it becomes wonderful! The nose is delicious and inviting, just the right amount of fruit with a milk chocolate finish and exquisite bourbon vanilla. The alcohol is incredibly well integrated and the rum is borderline sweet. A real pleasure.
Review by DosenZorn
Wow tolle Nase. Bombastische Kombination aus Fruchtestern und kräftig dunkler Schokolade. Am Gaumen ein sehr ähnliches Profil mit einem tollen schweren Mundgefühl. Anfangs noch etwas scharfkantig öffnet er sich nach einiger Zeit. Wundervoll komplexer Rum mit sehr vielen Nuancen zu entdecken.
Review by Boletus
Although the smell is inviting and fun, it doesn't begin to prepare you for the delicious spectacle in the mouth between fruity esters, spices and mature wood flavors. The finish could be a little longer, but even so, this is a great Lond Pond!
Review by Mentalo
After a long time, I had the Velier Vale Royal VRW in my glass again and also upgraded it by one point, but I don't quite warm to this bottling. The tropical maturation is fun, but there is one flavor note that bothers me and the fact that it is relatively sweet.
Review by mto75
after the initial solvents and glue come on the nose red fruits, raisins, marzipan, on the palate very round, really tasty 😋.
Review by Schnubbii
In der Nase finde ich etwas tropische Früchte, generell ist die Nase für mich aber eher verschlossen. Am Gaumen dann die tropischen Früchte eher im Hintergrund, im Vordergrund eher Würze, Süße, Holz und auch ganz leicht eine dreckige Diesel-Note, die entfernt an Caroni erinnert. Insgesamt wirklich sehr rund, der Alkohol ist gut eingebunden. Im Abgang dann mittellang, mit Toffee, Holz und wieder dieser leichten Diesel-Note. Edit: Nachdem ich vor kurzem auf Jamaika die Überreste der originalen Vale Royal Distillerie im Herzen (bzw. in der Wildnis) des Trelawny Parish entdecken durfte ist es mir eine Freude, den Rum heute nochmals zu verkosten gegen RX20000. Letzteren finde ich fast noch einen Ticken komplexer durch die leicht pflanzlichen Aromen von Tabak- und Lorbeerblättern. Nichtsdestotrotz sind beide Rum für mich großartige Abfüllungen mit einem zum Ausgabepreis fantastischen Preis/Genuss Verhältnis.
Review by TheJona'Spirits
The National Rums of Jamaica series continues. 👃 Concentrated aromas. Oily note of Madagascar vanilla bean, very ripe tropical fruits including passion fruit, pineapple and banana pig. Low esters not so light, vividness of varnish and solvents, salty spices, light brine, marzipan, buttered caramel, hot chocolate, light leather, exotic woodiness. 😋 Dominance of very ripe tropical fruit, exotic woodiness, sweet esters. Funky sweet and salty varnish bitterness, red pepper, roasted wood, bold vanilla, dark chocolate with chili peppers, warm licorice, light leather. Caramelized sweetness and toasted almonds complete the flavor picture. ⛳ Warm, long, lively, herbaceous. A bed of burnt sugar, softening esters, roasted wood and spicy grape brandy, I'm thinking Armagnac here. Dried fruit, fresh bitter grapefruit note, bitter dark chocolate. 💡 I really like this low ester LP, between sweetness and intensity, fruitiness and vivacity.
Review by Adrian Wahl
Very nice Long Pond, but also a bit boring. Can not quite keep up with the other NRJ LP in my eyes.
Review by Jussi Piirainen
This rum took longer to pen up than i expected, about 45 minutes. On the nose: Once this rum opens up you get more solvents notes than glue notes as a main note. Woody notes and vanilla notes are in the background. Taste: Tropical fruits, woody notes, light esters, light dark chocolate, light peppery burn at first. Then you get more vanilla notes and more dark chocolate notes, light leather notes and mouthfeel turns slightly creamy. Very good integration of alcohol. Oh, this is good and i did not expect this after nosing. Finish: Lots of spice notes on the finish. Esters at first then you get woody notes, light anise, light licorice notes with light herbal note on the background. Medium-long finish. Lots of surprises on the palate after the nosing and good range of notes even to the finish. I really enjoyed sipping this rum.
Review by Gyuli
Despite the low esters, it smells very rich and aromatic, like a concentrated juice from a tropical fruit, with hints of melon and toasted marshmallow. The flavor continues with the same rich tropical fruits. It's a bit spicy due to the high alcohol content, but it's not overpowering and not overwhelming. It's the ideal, tropical fruit-forward rum that I envisioned when I started drinking rum. I ended up buying two bottles and keeping one.
Review by Hrothgar
I find the smell almost perfect. The taste can unfortunately not quite redeem that.
Review by Rene Pfeiffer
Very round thing.
Review by Long John Silver
I love Jamaica and I really have a soft spot for long pond. I had never tasted Vale Royal and I must admit it has a different profile from other rums from the same distillery that I have had the pleasure of tasting. On the nose certainly not extreme, it starts with solvent, esters, glue then fruit spices, chocolate and marzipan. In the mouth we find the classic notes of glaze, solvent dark chocolate and woody, with a little hint of licorice root. All very bitter, as is the finish. Really a nice drink, different from the usual and very surprising.
Review by Nils123
Ein sehr gut gemachter, überzeugender Low-Ester-Jamaikaner. Leichte Ester in Form von Klebstoff in der Nase, im Geschmack steht dann eine volle Bandbreite an tropischen Früchten im Vordergrund. Im Allgemeinen sind für mich neben den Fruchtnoten noch Vanille und Karamell dominant.
Review by John Coffey
Peu d'esters.. Un côté frais en bouche.. Alcool moins bien intégré que les autres de la série.. Nez très prometteur mais manque de complexité..
Review by m8375e
lightest of the NRJ long ponds, still super nice.
Review by Hansii
Bin kein Profi aber ich finde Preis Leistung super Habe schon deutlich teuere getrunken wo die Überraschung deutlich kleiner wahr Am Anfang glaubt mann zwar es riecht einzig mach Klebstoff u. Lösungsmittel Aber nach 50-80min im Glas entfaltet er eine Pracht aus Aromen und auf der Zunge genial Mit einem langem Abschied
Review by Piotr Ignasiak
I tasted this along side Plantation extreme ITP 1996. After initial nose I thought this one would be more complex. I do find it very enjoyable, it's quite dense, however the plantation one is more fruity, complex and interesting. This VRW for me being very nice, is mostly focused on notes related to barrel influence, with cocoa and vanilla. Still quality stuff with very good alcohol integration.
Review by tojo
The ester notes settle fairly quickly in favor of a nice cocoa/milk chocolate/vanilla note. In the background raisins, red fruits and spices. In the mouth, wood/roasted flavors are added. I like the somewhat unexpected profile. 👍
Review by Vincent D
Very pleasant but not really the best of the NRJ series.I found it my complex and with a less well integrated alcohol.It remains very good. Sweet and greedy despite its power.
Review by Tom Buteneers
Blissfully fruity, reasonably sweet and alcohol very well integrated, excellent Jamaican.
Review by primus
An intense Jamaican that pulls out all the stops: The nose is tropical and fruity with pineapple, mango, raisin and notes of glue, accompanied by vanilla, ester and wood. The palate is complex, funky and spicy with dark chocolate, licorice, leather, bitterness and hints of solvent. The long finish brings herbs, burnt sugar, brandy, liquorice and esters. Dry, tart, demanding - a rum for advanced drinkers with a penchant for a wild high ester experience. No compromises, full force.
Review by Djehey
Ah I really like it! It's a nice change from the usual pineapple banana ester trio. There's a really nice layer of indulgence added (vanilla, milk chocolate, almond macarons, coconut...). Alcohol is superbly well integrated. Top notch.
Review by Agricoler
Long Pond Tasting: Erstklassiger VRW. Im gesamten Tating einer meiner Favoriten und zwar einfach weil er eine richtig runde Sache ist. Total schöne Schoko Rosinen Note mit ein wenig Estern.
Review by alex
It's very good. Not the best of the NRJ series (I love the TECA 2007) but frankly, it's a pleasure to drink. Not too much ester, but nice roundness and complexity. One thing's for sure, I love Long Pond in general and this one ranks pretty high in my tastings.
Review by Stylo
Wonderful example of Jamaican rum..really balanced, maybe just a pinch on the sweeter side. You can clearly pick a whole bouquet of tropical fruits, along with a juicy, beefy note that baldly states its true origin! Really delightful
Review by Pierangelo Pianta
In its simplicity (🤣) Lots of chocolate, cocoa, cooked fruit, a nice mix between Jamaica and wooden still, slightly too much alcohol. Lush and very pleasant.
Review by Michal S
VRW from Long Pond boasts a delicate aroma (tropical fruits, but also vanilla or caramel), the taste is already 62.5% and it is a real power.
Review by MJ97
Nez : au début un côté bien gras, beurré. Et c’est au plus que tu sens que au plus tu sens le côté fruits tropicaux type Jamaïque qui ressortent mais ça reste léger comparé à ceux high esters qui montrent que ça. Y’a un bois humide/vernis avec un peu de solvant et y’a un côté gourmand. C’est assez complexe quant tu vas chercher même si au premier abord ça parait pas vu que t’as pas les esters qui te pete le nez. Au plus j’attends au plus j’ai la vanille et un côté foursquare qui ressort assez déroutant pour un jamaïcain mais c’est vraiment la vanille du bois typique de Barbade que je retrouve ici. Au plus ça s’aere au moins j’ai les fruits tropicaux et j’ai le côté vanille / coco / tabac qui ressortent. Bouche : en bouche les fruits tropicaux à fond la caisse mais super agréable sans les esters. Tapisser par du bois et assez rond. C’est très gras, belle texture. Super agréable de boire un jam « calme » mais avec ses fruits tropicaux. Super équilibre. Après coup j’ai aussi du café qui vient confirmer ce côté bourbon. Et aussi du tabac, qui rappelle un peu plus le côté TDL. Il y a un menthol aussi qui est présent et rappelle un TDL. Malgré les 62° alcool merveilleusement bien intégré on ressent pas du tout. Finale moyenne à longue, qui évolue au fil de la dégustation comme la bouche, d’abord très expressif sur les fruits tropicaux / solvants puis évolue vers le côté vanille / cacao plus gourmand.
Review by Worst
From my point of view is a great Jamaican rum. The nose is fantastic and it has a great drinkability. Very well made rum.
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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
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Expert review by L'amateur éclairé
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Expert review by Préférence Rhum
Read full review →A very good Jam at low ester
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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 132 € – 190 €
from 8 sales, latest 05/2026
Prices incl. buyer's premium — what a buyer pays, not what a sale nets you.
Avg. community purchase price 159 €
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 Long Pond Vale Royal VRW 2006
A Pot Still Rum from Jamaica, bottled by Velier, at 62,5%.
Community purchases
267 bottles logged by 206 collectors.
A drinker & collector.
20% opened, 17 emptied and repurchased.
What does Velier Long Pond Vale Royal VRW 2006 cost?
Community paid 103–176 €.
Current best price: 211.45 € – above 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+ →
267 purchased · 174 tasted · 81 wishlist · as of
Read on in the RumX Guide
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