Just a couple of Barbancourts today.

Barbancourt *** 1970s (43%): This might still be a pot still expression and be about four years old. Nose: Very herbal with dill, sage, thyme and oregano paired with a dab of marzipan. While this is a typical Barbancourt that isn’t overly complicated to detect as such, I must say that it is much, much better than current expressions. The pot still surely did do wonders back then. My only complaint is that it is relatively faint at just 40%… Palate: Just as herbal (especially dill) but increasingly vegetal, a note that builds up like a crescendo. Asparagus, broccoli and a peppery omelette are my main associations. Personally, that’s still not my cup of tea unfortunately. Finish: Relatively short with the herbs and vegetal notes as well as pepper and allspice. Solid, but still sightly subpar. (72/100)

Barbancourt Cuvée 160ème 8YO (43%): This is a special anniversary bottling for Barbancourt’s 160th birthday, if I understand correctly. Nose: Slightly artificial with popcorn, caramel, sugar and vanilla.Deeper in the back notes of coffee, oak and herbs. Usually I should like a profile like this but I have to admit that I am not too fond of this one, unfortunately. Palate: Quite watery and very similar to the nose. That is, we still get a lot of this popcorn, caramel and vanilla combination, in the same slightly artificial sense. I was really hoping for more here. It does have a real old school side to it though, which separates it from contemporary Rums. Finish: Short and more of the same. I’d say this isn’t anything you should be looking for in particular. (67/100)

Velier The Vieux Labbé (Barbancourt) 1999 21YO (58,9%): This is probably the oldest Barbancourt I know. Nose: And it might be the best one! Wow, this is definitely a different profile from what I usually have in mind when thinking about the distillery. There’s even glue in the mix! Muscovado sugar, sweet and salted licorice, cassava, oak, seaweed, boot polish and different herbal notes. Had you told me that this is Guyana, I would surely have believed it. Palate: A very cool mix of two different worlds: On the one hand we have this Demerara profile (sugar, salty notes, licorice etc.), on the other hand herbs, sugar cane and vegetal notes. I don’t think I have ever had a profile like this, even though the “other hand” feels a bit misplaced at times. But that is probably just because it is so unusual. After a while we get more spices, honey and rich oak. Finish: Long and salty with different spices, herbs, cassava, oak and a handful of iodine. As we have said, this feel almost like a new distillery, or a familiar Rum with a finish. I am very glad we got to try this. (87/100)