The 22 year old one is a bottling by Wu Dram Clan, which makes my expectations go way up to begin with. The age doesn’t bring it down either. Then the other one is a three year old from Habitation Velier, which also is a renowned brand of rums.

Apart from it being from Jamaica, I don’t know much about rum at all. Maybe I should get RvB in here at some point to write more in depth articles about that.

Habitation Velier Long Pond STC❤️E 3, 2019, 60%

Sniff:
Very chemical and feinty. Lots of petrol and engine grease. Quite green with grass and sugarcane. A hint of cocoa in the background.

Sip:
The palate is quite a bit heavier, and bone dry. Sawdust, some sugarcane and an almost painful heat.

Swallow:
The finish mellows quickly, and slightly sweeter than the nose and palate. The green notes are gone, and the dryness too.

I don’t dislike the flavors at all, but the 60% ABV in combination with the young age makes this a drink that I find way too hot.

Many others (most?) seem to like this much more than I do. Maybe I’m just getting old and prefer things a bit more gentle…

83/100

Wu Dram Clan Long Pond LPS 22, 2001, 56.3%

Sniff:
Even though the ABV isn’t that high, this does smell like rocket fuel at the beginning. It’s massively funky, but just shy of being too much for me. A bit ‘clunky’ and there is no subtlety to be found. Molasses and overripe mango, slightly burnt brown sugar and kerosene.

Sip:
The palate brings that fuel note again, but slightly toned down. There’s more room for oak and molasses. There’s a heat with spicy notes, wood spices, mostly. Quite dry, with caramelized brown sugar, some sugar cane juice and more and more oak if you let it swim.

Swallow:
The finish goes straight back to the notes of kerosene, diesel fumes, massively funky again. The wood is as prominent as it was on the palate with more spices and ripe tropical fruit.

So, even though this is not even 4% less alcohol, the fact that it has spent way more time in a cask makes the alcohol a lot mellower, and far more integrated with the rest of the liquid. Lovely flavors, that are still quite industrial, but damn, what a dram!

89/100