Domaine de Courcelles 49 Year 1972

Review by: The Auditor

Review #1202; Rum #516

Here we have a botting of rum from the closed Courcelles distillery. This bottling came from the last year of production, which occurred in 1972 not at the original distillery but at the Sainte-Marthe distillery where the stills were moved. It aged for 49 years in French Oak before being bottled in 2021. This was aged all tropically and bottled with no additives.

Distillery: Courcelles

Region: Guadeloupe

Still: Column

Cask: ex-French Oak

ABV: 42%

Nose: Green Apple, Allspice, Cinnamon, Pie Crust, Black Pepper, Honey, Floral

Palate:   Medium mouthfeel, Green Apple, Floral, Cinnamon, Allspice, Black Pepper, Pie Crust

Finish: Medium length finish, Black Pepper, Nutmeg, Allspice, Pie Crust, Black Tea.

Conclusion: This is a great rum whose flavor profile really surprised me as I sat with it. I expected a very oak driven, heavy rum but, to my surprise, something really delicate in flavor is what I sipped on. The floral and honey notes are really pleasant, the bit of fruit and spices really bring it all together.

Final Score: 88

Scoring Legend:

  • 95-100: As good as it gets. Jaw-dropping, eye-widening, unforgettable whisky.
  • 90-94: Sublime, a personal favorite in its category.
  • 85-89: Excellent, a standout dram.
  • 80-84: Quite good. Quality stuff.
  • 75-79: Decent whisky worth tasting.
  • 70-74: Meh. It’s definitely drinkable, but it can do better.
  • 60-69: Not so good. I might not turn down a glass if I needed a drink.
  • 50-59: Save it for mixing.
  • 0-49: Blech.

Published by The Auditor

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I have drank my fair amount of single malt but got started writing reviews about Single Malt and Bourbon in 2018. Over 1000 total reviews later and I focus mainly on Sugar Cane Spirits now. However, single malt is a still a spirits category I enjoy greatly as is Agave and Brandy. I wouldn’t go as far as to call myself an expert but I am the resident Rum obsessed writer for Malt Runners.

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