What's new at Velier

The Velier Pure Single Rum pop-up store - which closed its doors on May 20 after a few days of extension - was also an opportunity to taste the new products to come from Velier. A new selection of 4 Demerara rums that Luca Gargano had already mentioned in our interview . Among them 2 light rums and 2 historic blends because they were made before aging. A little cross-tasting of a few samples...

[bottling dates correspond to those of the samples, so they may be different when the rums are released later this year]

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Diamond & Versailles 1996
SVSG 1996/2013 (57.9°) 2 barrels

Distilled in 1996 and bottled in 2013 at 57°, this is a blend of rums from Diamond (<S>) and its metal column still (Metal Coffey Still), and Versailles (VSG) and its famous wooden pot still. A historic and experimental blend because it is made before aging and directly in the barrel .

A superb complex and smoky nose (tobacco), candied fruits (apricot), caramel and liquorice, quite heavy and thick but which opens up on much softer and fruitier notes, on exoticism and melted spices. A complex nose that becomes mouth-wateringly delicious… almost buttery, and always with this smoky veil in the background.

The entry in the mouth is soft and rather creamy (concentrated like most of Velier's Demerara rums, rich in their tropical aging), on the fruity first to continue on this smoky note which takes more and more space, soon mixed with spices (+licorice). The smoky note which has the appearance of tobacco leaf leads the dance and leaves a slight bitterness in the mouth, on a long and warm finish, well balanced. The empty glass is a light and round perfume which makes you want to go back again.

This is the first time I have found this touch of smoke in a Demerara rum, the Versailles effect? ​​I really like the fruity/smoky duo which works very well and the rum will definitely have a good place on my shelf.

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Diamond & Port Mourant 1995
<SV>PM 1995/2013 (62.1°) 2 barrels

Distilled in 95 and bottled 18 years later at 62.1°, this is another DDL experiment, another blend before aging: Diamond (<SV>) and its metal columns, and Port Mourant (PM) and its double pot still made of several hundred-year-old wood. Let's see if we find this smoky side or even something else...

The nose is even more concentrated than the Diamond/Versailles blend and we find this smokiness still as pleasant, even if it is much more discreet and especially hidden behind much more numerous empyreumatic grilled aromas: grilled dried fruits, mocca/coffee, and this humid woodiness so dear to Port Mourant rums, a true trademark. Less light than its little brother, the nose is more powerful and the alcohol more present. Let's give it a little rest...

Time passes and the rum does not seem to open up, on the contrary it strengthens and seems to concentrate the previously mentioned aromas to become one. The alcohol is still quite present and small sweet hints seem to suggest a little exoticism and fruit, but so little.

The attack is once again concentrated and creamy, powerful and spicy but less 'painful' than the nose seemed to suggest. It builds up quite quickly on spices and wood for a very long and explosive finish. It heats up and there is no doubt that this rum will please more whisky lovers and those used to powerful alcohols, even if this one remains very interesting.

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Uitvlugt 1997
ULR 1997/2013 (59.7°) 5 barrels

ULR for U itvlugt L ight R um. We leave the world of blends for a so-called 'light' rum that comes from the Savalle still, a 4-column still that can produce rums of different styles, more or less rich, depending on the needs and desires (for example Albion, Blairmont or Skeldon). This 16-year-old rum was made in 1997 and has an alcohol content of 59.7°.

This is an imposing nose, not unlike an Enmore 95, heavy and very aromatic. The high alcohol content is rather well integrated, even if it is advisable to proceed with caution. Calling it a 'light' rum is surprising and disconcerting to say the least, and I have a hard time imagining if it wasn't. It is heavy and gourmand at the same time, with caramelized fruits (apricot, banana), almond paste, liquorice and melted spices (gingerbread), resinous but seductive, completely to my taste...

On the palate it is thick and powerful, on candied fruits but also citrus fruits, a good dose of spices again and liquorice; the finish is moderately long but offers an interesting persistence on the spices, perhaps the light side of the rum?

A great nose but a finish that perhaps leaves you a little hungry (everything is relative and the finish remains well above many other more classic rums).

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Uitvlugt 1996
MODIFIED GS 1996/2013 (57.2°) 4 barrels

MOD GS for "MODified GS", another experimental rum from Uitvlugt and the Savalle still but it is now 'cut' to 15%; so we should perhaps have a really light rum.

The nose is indeed much lighter than the ULR version above, but still very aromatic with a degree that also works quite well. We are on the same aromatic palette that seems specific to the Savalle still which I definitely like a lot.

We are still on empyreumatic, grilled and even burnt notes, almost animal, candied fruits, caramelized to excess. Exuberant! Quite a bit of coffee too for a little more warmth, dried fruits and a floral touch that seems to transform the rum from time to time, twirling between heaviness and lightness.

The attack is soft and much easier, on the same notes with added liquorice, for a long and tasty finish that lingers for a very long time. More complex and lighter than the ULR.

To conclude this small cross-tasting, we can already say that the next 4 Velier rums are very complementary and that each amateur will find what they are looking for.

On one side there are two blends: one much easier (SVSG) than the other, more powerful (SV/PM).

And on the other two 'light' rums: One which will perhaps be more reserved for the initiated (ULR) and the MOD GS much more accessible and really light for the time being, ultimately bluffing.

There is something for everyone, great job of selection for this release awaited by many with patience. It should be noted that we should be able to get them before the Whisky Live, and even probably this summer…

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.

From the folks behind DuRhum, Velier, and more, comes a premium online marketplace for rum enthusiasts by rum enthusiasts! Do check out www.rowspirits.fr for more great content and iconic rums!