White rum is often overlooked, but when done right, it could be a revelation. For rum enthusiasts, names like Foursquare Distillery, Hampden Estate, and Velier SpA resonate deeply as trailblazers who have elevated rum in the modern day. And when these powerhouses collaborate, we expect magic to happen.

The Veritas White Rum is the brainchild of Velier visionary Luca Gargano, blended under the watchful eye Foursquare’s maestro Richard Seale. Seale and Gargano have a long history of collaboration, both being strong advocates for transparency and authentic rum production. Their partnership has yielded numerous highly regarded Foursquare-Velier bottlings, including the iconic Foursquare Triptych and Criterion, to name just a few. The name itself, "Veritas," meaning "truth" in Latin, again highlights these buddies’ commitment to transparency and authenticity (the “Veritas” brand was already reserved in the US, so this bottling appears under the name of Probitas, which means honesty).

When these rum maestros team up, they usually conjure up coveted limited-edition bad boys you would usually cradle in your hand or jealously protect on the top shelves of your cabinet. Veritas is a different beast altogether. This is a white rum that's meant to be drunk and designed to be a part of every bartender’s repertoire.

The idea for Veritas came to Luca when he saw a glaring gap in the market: while there were plenty of mass-market white rums out there, they often lacked character and complexity. Many were overly neutral, almost vodka-like, or even masked with sweeteners and artificial flavours without proper disclosure to the consumer – a cardinal sin to true rum lovers like Luca and Richard.

Luca (left) and Richard (right). (Image Source: Velier)

Veritas was conceived in 2018 to fill the void, aiming to offer a high-quality white rum that bartenders and rum cocktail enthusiasts could appreciate. Of course, we should mention there were a small handful of contenders in the same space, like Hampden Estate's iconic Rum Fire. This 100% Jamaican pot still rum, with its raw and unapologetic profile of overripe tropical fruits and funky esters, has certainly won the hearts of Jamaican rum fanatics. However, for the casual drinker, its pungent intensity might be a bit too much, potentially overpowering the delicate balance of a mixed drink.

Luca turned to Richard and they both set out to create something different with Richard being the Master Blender for the spirit. They wanted a white rum that was complex and flavourful, yet balanced and approachable, suitable for a wider range of cocktails like Daiquiris, Mojitos, Piña Coladas.

The Hampden Estate (Source: Hunor Dr. Kovács)

Veritas combines unaged double retort pot still rum from Hampden in Jamaica with a blend of mildly aged and unaged pot and column still rums from Foursquare in Barbados. The Foursquare component adds roundness and depth to the blend. The unaged Hampden rum provides a touch of rawness and that distinctive Jamaican 'funk' – a quality often missing in mass-produced white rums. This funkiness, however, is carefully calibrated, not reaching the full-throttle intensity of Rum Fire. It's present enough to add some personality, but not so much that it overwhelms the other flavours. This balanced profile has made Veritas a favourite among quite a number of bartenders, especially those with a passion for rums. Velier has also touted this expression as the first ever blended rum made between two different distilleries.

Although its calling lies in the realm of cocktails, this isn't to say that Veritas can't be sipped on its own. So, let's dive into this tasting to see what this unique expression has to offer!

Velier Veritas White Blended Rum, 47% ABV – Review

Nose: Bright and slightly green, opens with refreshing burst of ice cream soda sweetness. There's a clean, grassy undertone, reminiscent of freshly cut fields, though not as overtly herbaceous as a Rhum Agricole. As it develops, the sweetness deepens, bringing forth notes of rich brown sugar and overripe raspberries. A gentle vanilla pod aroma emerges, accompanied by a subtle pepperiness and a touch of zesty orange oil.

Palate: The texture is creamy and velvety, coating the palate with a satisfying weight that hints at the pot still rum's influence. It's clean, mildly sweet, and remarkably balanced. The initial sip bursts with sweet cane juice, followed by the delicate sweetness of pink guava and a hint of lychee. As it evolves, a subtle dryness gradually emerges, accompanied by a warming ginger spice tingle on the tongue. There’s also in the background some custard tart sweetness and a distinct vanilla creaminess. Ice cream soda makes a reappearance.

Finish: Relatively short, with a lingering touch of waxiness with a dry, ginger ale-like sensation, along with a subtle peppery warmth.

My Thoughts:

I'm truly impressed by Veritas. Frankly, its complexity and depth makes it more compelling to me than many standard aged rum expressions. The palate delightfully balances clean, bright fruit and a grassy freshness with a sweet, almost nostalgic, ice cream soda character, and the gradual evolution towards dryness is pretty darn elegant. It's a testament to Richard Seale’s blending skills.

Don’t judge a book by its cover, nor a rum by its price. This is a crowd-pleaser that will also capture the attention of those seasoned rum loves, I reckon. While it’s designed for mixing, I find this perfectly enjoyable being sipped neat. A fantastic addition to any rum cabinet.

My Rating: 8/10

@CharsiuCharlie