2022 has been an incredibly tumultuous year for us and, for the first time in over five years (!), we’ve had to take not one, but two breaks from blogging. Instead of rambling about the reasons for it, giving you the “Best Rums of the Year” or reviewing the year of Rum (which can be found elsewhere), we shall simply list our favorites that we have reviewed this year. Of course that list differs from the favorites we have actually tasted… As you’ll see, it was pretty much the year of Saint Lucia Distillers!

Recent Bottlings (Released in 2021/2022)

1. Nobilis Hampden “C<>H” 1993 27YO (65,8%) – 95/100
2. Chairman’s Reserve 2005 15YO “The Nectar” (64,4%) – 93/100
3. J.Bally 2006 15YO (57,5%) – 93/100
4. Chairman’s Reserve 2011 9YO “Evanius Harris” (56%) – 92/100
5. Rum Artesanal Clarendon “EMB” 1995 26YO (67,2%) – 90/100
6. Rum Artesanal Hampden “C<>H” (for Whiskytempel) 1993 28YO (61,9%) – 90/100
7. Rum Artesanal T.D.L. 2002 19YO (63,4%) – 89/100
8. Chairman’s Reserve 2005 15YO “Grape of the Art & RumX” (61,5%) – 89/100
9. Chairman’s Reserve 2005 15YO “Berry Bros & Rudd” (61%) – 89/100
10. Saint James 2001 20YO (bottled for V&B, 57,6%) – 89/100

Older Bottlings (Released prior to 2021)

1. Velier Caroni 2000 19YO “Nita “Nitz” Hogan” (65,2%) – 94/100
2. Velier Caroni 2000 19YO “Basdeo “Dicky” Ramsarran” (64,3%) – 94/100
3. Velier Caroni 2000 15YO “Juul’s” (70,2%) – 93/100
4. El Dorado Diamond “<SVW> DLR” ‘CBH’ 1998 20YO (55,1%) – 92/100
5. Velier Monymusk “Villa Paradisetto” 1995 24YO “EMB” (67%) – 91/100
6. Golden Devil Hampden “C<>H” 1993 27YO (64,8%) – 91/100
7. Rum Nation Supreme Lord VIII (Monymusk) 1991 25YO (55,7%) – 91/100
8. Velier Blairmont 1982 29YO “<B>” (60,4%) – 90/100
9. El Dorado Diamond “<SVW> DLR” ‘De Monnik Dranken’ 1998 20YO (54,9%) – 89/100
10. Bielle 2009 8YO “La Confrérie du Rhum” #54 (51,9%) – 89/100

Other Spirits

1. Navarre Vieille Reserve (Grande Champagne, 45%) – 93/100
2. Jean-Luc Pasquet Lot 68-72 “Kirsch Whisky” (Fins Bois, 59,1%) – 93/100
3. Bertrand Heritage Batch No. 1 (49,2%) – 92/100
4. Grape of the Art Jean-Luc Pasquet Lot 68-72 (Fins Bois, 66,6%) – 92/100
5. Jean-Luc Pasquet Lot 62 “Pierre de Joyet” (Petite Champagne, 41,3%) – 92/10

As always, the featured image has been borrowed from our buddy Johannes at Vintage Sugarcane Postcards.

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