Luca Gargano's new project, Habitation Velier, is on a crusade against preconceived ideas with a very specific goal: to allow the whole world to differentiate between artisanal distillation and industrial distillation. To show that from a good raw material, a traditional distillation, and without any additions, it is possible to produce a rum of excellent quality, and with a very marked typicality.

And whether it's white or aged rum, his personal selections - which he is the only one to actually make on site - systematically highlight a still and a know-how: each label includes the graphic of the still and its name, the distillery (identified by a color code, also included on the cap), and the lot of information that one can expect from the gentleman: distillation and bottling dates, angels' share, and of course everything bottled at natural strength, without coloring or addition; Note the presence of the mention 'Sugar Free', which will have the wonderful idea of ​​bringing a little freshness, in a world of excessively sweet rum. And with this crazy bet, with each new release, to offer something different, and to make a distillery discover from another angle, in all humility and authenticity.

Habitation Velier Foursquare 2013 / 64°

Born from a meeting between Luca Gargano and Richard Seale, this selection is unique in several ways: firstly because it formalises the meeting of two purists, two of the greatest defenders of rum. And secondly, because it is the first Pure Single Rum (a rum produced exclusively from a pot still) bottled by Foursquare (which has always sworn only by blends).

Age : distilled from local molasses (Barbados) in 2013 then bottled in 2015, after 2 years of aging in Cognac barrels already used to age rum. the rum is presented without dilution (cask strength) in 70cl bottles and in 8000 copies.

This Pure Single Rum, which is only two short years old, perfectly shows that quality does not wait for the number of years, and that the choice of barrels remains fundamental. Unique in its kind, the rum has aged in very old Cognac barrels from the house of Moët Hennessy, but not just any: those previously used to produce the brand 10 Cane, a premium white rum (and pure juice), launched a few years ago by the LVMH group (and previously produced in Trinidad and Tobago). The barrels thus served as an ideal container, for optimal maturation, where complexity and finesse excel. The rum should be distributed in April in some 8000 copies.

The rum offers an amber color, very clear, tending towards straw, with the appearance of yellow wine crowned with a path of lascivious tears.
On the nose it is very soft, on an anesthetized Jamaican atmosphere, dry and buttery at the same time, with its share of nuts. With this impression, not far from being strange, of being in front of a Cognac. And for good reason, the barrels and their past act here as an aromatic catalyst, and reinforce this impression of softness, this extreme lightness.

Of an intense and deep finesse, the woodiness is powdery and preciously vanilla, on cocoa powder; the rest will bring out the most made-up exoticism of the Cognac cellars, which skillfully blends in an atmosphere that is sometimes gourmet, sometimes humid (with precisely a certain smell of cellar, humid and earthy). We would even forget the 64°, we would even forget that it is rum…

For a 2-year-old, it is a tour de force, and only Neisson manages to deliver as much (and even more) finesse in its woodiness. Of course, it is not extremely complex, and we cannot decently ask for as much for such a young rum; but if we had to transcribe its complexity to its youth, it would then be one of the best ambassadors. One would think the incidence of wood is dramatically absent, but it is a sleight of hand, because it is there, sublimated in its noblest, finest, and most delicate form. The 64 watts do not even flinch, astounded by so much mastery.

On the palate, it is sweet like a cognac, before feeling the alcohol knocking at the door. The woodiness comes out this time, but still finely, in the form of dried blond tobacco leaves, liquorice stick, slightly bitter; then come the nuts, and empyreumatic, roasted, but also iodized, almost marine notes. Add to that burnt oak powder, almond, dried fruits.

The palate is very soft for 64°, and generous in its simplicity, without frills. The finish is very long, on almond (kernel), oak powder and a hint of iodized bitterness, with a sort of marine blond tobacco, dried but made expressly moist by the swell of a drifting boat. The empty glass lets the powder (cocoa) speak.

A very interesting and pleasant tasting rum, which clearly shows - and rather effectively - that the selection of casks is essential. That with the right casks a rum can be not outrageously woody and even very fine, while remaining very young. This will fundamentally involve patience, in addition to good casks, and the talent of the producer, but the result deserves special attention. Note: 84

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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