What if we took care of Albion a little? Said like that, it would seem almost simple but today unfortunately we no longer count the obstacles to find it, starting with the price but also the opportunity given the very small quantities bottled at the time.

We have already been able to discuss the Albion 1983 released by Velier in 2008 and the Albion 1986 distributed in 2011, both having spent 25 years in the tropical climate of Guyana at DDL. Here we will try another 1983 (the very first), the 1989 vintage and the 1994 to almost complete the loop of the Albions… still missing the Albion 1984 released in 2002 that I have never -yet- come across. Note that only the 1986 vintage has a different mark (AW and not AN like the rest of the range), the "mark" which let us remember refers to a specific style of rum, more or less heavy, aromatic, etc…

On the distillation side, it happens via a Wooden Continuous Still, or a wooden column; of course it would be more than surprising if it were an original column having officiated and survived the old Albion distillery (which closed its doors in 1968). In all probability, and as mentioned by Marco Freyer in his ultra complete article on Demerara rum (translated into French by the excellent Nico from the Coeur de Chauffe blog ), it would therefore be the only wooden Coffey still listed by DDL, or the Enmore still (Coffey Enmore still) which was then used to copy Albion styles.

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Velier Albion 1983 / 40°

Distilled in June 1983 and bottled in November 2000 at 40° (diluted) with an aging that is intended to be continental (but we will see below that this is not so obvious). According to the labeling this rum comes from special barrels (AN 552-556) .

The color is a pronounced amber tending towards bronze, quite oily in appearance.

On the nose, forget the 40° because this rum is clearly richer than it appears on paper. On a dark but refreshing molasses between cooked/burnt sugar (syrup), liquorice and citrus fruits, lemon zest in the lead, but also melon. In the end, this Albion appears very smooth from start to finish, far from the perfidious Albion 83 'black bottle' version which is much more tarry and rubbery (but also aged entirely in the tropics). My bottle has been open for a long time and it also suits it quite well, as if it had opened on exotic fruits. Beyond that, there are quite a few dried fruits including grapes and some warm spices, tobacco.

On the palate, it is very concentrated for 40° and it is a very nice surprise. We find our grilled molasses, liquorice and our dried fruits which bring a nice softness and sweetness to the mouth; but also this pleasant freshness (zests) which awakens the taste buds. Measured with Anton Paar, there is in this rum between 4 and 8gr/L of sugar, surely caramel? The tobacco is there too, and the mouth becomes tannic and a little more peppery. Simple but effective, and especially rich for the titration. The finish is warm and spicy, smoky.

A less dark Albion, simpler too but which shines by its richness for its small 40°. A small piece of history but not the best of the lot. Note: 83

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Velier Albion 1989 / 62.7°

Bottled in January 2008 (mark AN), this Albion is aged 19 years (excessively tropical aging); it is also the rarest with 108 small bottles released in total, from a single cask.

The color is bronze and the liquid is imposing, fat and conquering. Perfidious Albion?

On the nose, you will have to be patient because the almost 63° do their job and will only reveal themselves through patience and contemplation. After a few long minutes, we are still on this heavy profile (molasses, tar, burnt rubber) which knows how to be sweeter (candied fruits, grapes and exoticism) and even refreshing (mint, eucalyptus), and it must be said that it works very well! More cerebral than the 1986, with a more vegetal side too (herbs), and more on tobacco.

A few drops of water (because yes, it is always interesting to add some when the degree is so high) reinforces the dark tones of tar, rubber, tobacco, in an excessively complete and complex whole, very well balanced. The Rolls of Albion? Let's wait for the mouth all the same, but this nose is in itself a success, and a feat. Letting it open is an endless and constantly renewed pleasure. Everything is melted.

On the palate, the attack is resinous and concentrated like rarely, almost brutal; it warms the throat (without burning but not far), on tobacco, liquorice and a supercharged molasses with a profile always carried on this side of grass sauce (tobacco + oak + molasses), smoky and far from sweet considerations; we hit hard but we hit well. It is powerful but interesting (like a Port Mourant 93 is to a Port Mourant 97 if you follow me). The finish is endless and one could easily suspect it, very pleasant and distant. With a few dashes of water, it is just as good and that is already saying a lot.

A brutal version of Albion, but still a damn interesting Albion, and perhaps even more so than a 1986 which is still older (25 years against 19). Much smokier, vegetal (grass, tobacco), more versatile and complex. Score: 94

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Velier Albion 1994 / 60.4°

Bottled in February 2011, this is the youngest of the Albion family: 17 years old to evolve in the climate of Guyana (mark AN). Produced from the blend of 4 barrels (#7100, 7101, 7102 and 7103).

The color of this 1994 is still a little darker, still with a dark amber, coppery and with a proud appearance (very bright). Oily? and not just a little!

On the nose, it smells good of Albion; but what else? asphalt and melted rubber on its over-ripe (senile) exotic fruit and its molasses/caramel sauce. If you like this nose, you will like all the Albions, and worse, you will venerate them… It is beautiful, it smells good, it is resinous (glue and solvent) and inimitable. There are dried fruits in it (raisins, prunes), liquorice, mint, coffee and coconut; toasted, pleasant and caramelized notes, gourmand, salty? It is heavy with common sense and delicacies and the 60.4° quickly go by the wayside, forgotten for a long time.

In the mouth, it is also resinous, powerful and rich, very rich. And also very heavy, molasses in the lead, with a concentrated and melting sauce side skillfully mixing a bunch of exotic fruits (apricot, mango, deceased papaya), zest (orange, lemon), caramel, liquorice, grape and sea water (or Guérande salt, it's your choice). Impossible to remain indifferent, iodized and sweet, rubbery and well-hung, sweet tarry. A rum on steroids. The finish is necessarily long, tasty, black and gourmet, dry and salty like a salty kiss, with for the most daring the memory of a torrid night special bondage.

Albion is Albion, from 83 to 94 it remains at the same time heavy, deep and greedy with this brown of freshness which never tires, and worse, which makes you come back again and again. Note: 93

Cross-tasting of all Albion:

Between the two 83s there is no comparison, the 'full tropical' version is clearly better, less sweet, darker and much more complex and interesting; and already more resinous and deep and this with a relatively close alcoholic strength in the end (40 against 46.4); this shows us once again here all the added value of tropical aging compared to continental aging in Europe. A textbook case and a nice comparison to make.

With the 1986 vintage , we enter fully into the high-proof Demerara (60.6°) and it may seem violent to go from a small 46 to an assumed 60: more watts and therefore more alcohol and more barriers to cross. The reward is there but we will have to know how to be patient even if the mouth alone could act as a difference. In this game, the 1983 at 46.4° will keep my preferences, more pleasant in pure tasting, more quickly and for longer.

There remains the Albion 1989 , apart and as more brutal/raw, but just as interesting or even more. As if the entire aromatic palette of Albion gained in complexity, in depth, with a pronounced herbaceous and smoky side. An Albion apart and which despite its degree is much more accessible (and undoubtedly better) than the 86 which seems almost too alcoholic. There remains the 1994 , the latest and perhaps the last at all unless DDL suddenly decides to bring the brand up to date? A 1994 which synthesizes the Albion touch all by itself, a bit like the 83 but with more passion and audacity.

So are all Albions equal? ​​Certainly yes, for those who like them in any case, and I am unconditionally one of them, for the best and for the burnt.

To help you (and me) find your way around, regarding the notes:

90 and + : exceptional and unique rum, it is the best of the best
between 85 and 89 : highly recommended rum, with that little something that makes the difference
between 80 and 84 : recommendable rum
75-79 POINTS : above average
70-74 POINTS : in the low average
less than 70 : not very good

Review courtesy of DuRhum.com.

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