Bielle Rums Review
Updated: 9 hours ago
Happy New Year, and Feliz Ano Novo to my new Madeiran friends.
I hope you had a great festive break. We spent ours in gorgeous weather at the guesthouse where progress is flying!
We're on track for a July 1st opening and, as part of our soft launch, we're offering a 50% discount to SecretRumBar subscribers for 2025 stays. www.madeira.life
*very limited availability, accommodation only excl. tourist tax
For my first review of 2025, I'm tasting a lineup of rums made at Bielle Distillery in Guadeloupe. Rhum Bielle has a special place in my heart after our incredible visit back in 2023. Of all the distilleries I've visited, Bielle and Hampden are two that truly lived up to their folklore expectations. You can find my writeup, and Guadeloupe 'rum travel' tips here
6 samples, 25ml of each, left to open up for just 20mins as I was a bit rushed. Nosed first, then tasted, in increasing abv order.
Assisted today by Aretha Franklin's best album - Lady Soul. I'm having fun picking a dozen LPs to accompany Mrs SecretRumBar's 'big birthday' present of a record player. It's a fun challenge to pick just 12, across all genres, to form the ideal collection starter pack. Since when did records get so bloody expensive?!
Left to right, as per the lead photo. In the first trio the Rasta Morris is a touch darker than it's buddies. And in the second, the Swell noticeably lighter. Many thanks to WL Paris for their 'donation' of so many glasses ;-)
A pretty unique release from a small independent bottler in Cognac, presented in an annoying slanted bottle (really messes with my OCD when organising rum shelves!)
Nose: A bright, fresh, very inviting cane fruit nose. Light caramel. Lively sharp fruit. Toasted spice and coconut. Slight wet wood. A light but elegant and complex nose. Cherry and cane berry. Lots of coconut. A treat.
Mouth: Oh wow. That's really lovely. Bright. Quite sharp. Minty, but balanced with fruit zest and a touch of caramel. So lively. The naturally sweet almost bonbon flavours are balanced with the slap of sharp acid and hints of oaky tannin. Even a vague whisp of barbeque smoke. With more time it keeps getting better! [88+pts]
An old release from 2019. Rasta Morris have an outstanding reputation for great barrel picks, and this is no exception. I reviewed this bottling in 2021 as part of a previous Bielle lineup here
Nose: Less fruit acid. Toastier oak. Less caramel. More dark fruit, toasted spice and warm oak. Cherry pastry! Outstanding. Rich, deep and indulgent. Like a hug in a glass.
Mouth: A naturally sweet vanilla caramel start, nutty mid-palate, and dry spice finish. Buttery and delicate, yet complex. Beautiful. Honeyed. The sharp fruit acid is better integrated with dry spicy oak. A near-perfect Bielle for me. [90+pts]
An estate bottling from 2023. These limited Brut de Fût bottlings are usually released a couple of times a year and from experience have offered great value for aged Bielle. I think this is the only one in the lineup that's not a single cask although I can't find a bottle count.
Nose: A drier one. Musky. Grassy. Alcohol is more noticeable than the first two. Very enjoyable but a smidge less complex, and less honeyed fruit. It's good, just a notch less wow.
Mouth: Grape must. Grassy. Boozy. Lots of pepper. Hint of marzipan. An oily texture, with light mint chocolate and candied citrus peel on the finish. [86-pts]
The oldest of today's lineup at 10 years, which was spent entirely in Pedro Ximénez sherry barrels from a bodega in Jerez de la Frontera. A single cask, bottled at full proof as part of Excellence Rhum's 2023 'collection'. Excellence Rhum in Paris do a great job selecting interesting and quality rums for their own label bottlings. A small independent rum shop with a huge reputation - I highly recommend a visit if you're ever in Paris.
Nose: Peach, prune juice, tobacco. Earthy, quite grassy and herbal. Touch of chamomile tea.
Mouth: Firmly in the Agricole camp here - herbal and grassy. Spicy plum, prunes and honey. And the chamomile tea carries through. The barrel influence is not great and a bit too much for me. It's tasty but doesn't reach the mark of the first three. [83-pts]
A single cask, aged for 7 years in Marie Galante and then sailed to Europe aboard the Avontuur. After a final year aging this was bottled by the highly regarded bottler Swell de Spirits.
Nose: Light, grassy, cognac notes, a little floral. Good spicy oak influence. Touch of vanilla. Classy and balanced if maybe not too exciting on the nose.
Mouth: Yum. That's very good. Punchier and fuller than the nose suggests. Possibly a touch restrained but the balance is spot on. Honeyed, floral, vanilla oak, fruit acid - all playing in symphony. Delicious long finish. A winner. [85pts]
Aged entirely in ex-Bourbon barrels for 5 long years in the cellars of Marie Galante's old rums. Bottled by Paris based Excellence Rhum at its natural strength as part of their 2023 'collection'.
Nose: Big, rich cane profile. Vanilla caramel. Some oak. Quality agricole nose.
Mouth: Spicy. Big mouth full of fruit and honeyed zest. Toasted nuts. Bit sharp on the finish but overall very tasty with a warm boozy cane juice finish [85+pts]
Conclusion
A win for Rasta Morris with Maison Chollet close behind. And a reminder of how much I love Bielle rum!!
Coming soon ... a rum drinker's thoughts & reviews of a selection of Armagnacs!
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