Papalin is a Jamaican rum blend orchestrated by Luca Gargano of Velier. The blend includes rum from two distilleries: 80% comes from Worthy Park while 20% comes from Hampden Estate. The Hampden component is of the HLCF type and half is aged in bourbon casks, while the other half is from sherry casks. All stored at the respective distilleries. The rum is bottled at 47%.
Colour: Golden.
Aroma: Lots of fruit notes (apple, tropical fruit) as well as spicy notes and a medicinal dimension a la camphor and eucalyptus.
Tasting notes: Rich, fruity, spicy.
Serving suggestions: Best enjoyed neat.
The sound of the name “Velier” evokes a very special feeling among rum geeks. Time and time again, the mastermind behind the company, Luca Gargano, manages to shock and delight the rum world with releases that set new standards for quality, transparency and geekiness.
Velier’s reputation for exceptional quality was already cemented in the ’00s with a string of uncompromising Demerara rums. Today, these bottles are the pinnacle of carbon rum and change hands for astronomical sums at spirit auctions worldwide. Later, the company became known for tropical aged Caroni, a distinctive rum from a now-closed distillery in Trinidad, with notes of smoke, tar and bacon. An “acquired taste”, but once you have it…
Along with Foursquare’s Richard Seale, Luca is staunchly (and loudly) opposed to additives or cheating on age designations, which is why Velier’s latest range of rums, Habitation Velier, puts transparency first. The label proudly reveals every detail about the production, from “angel’s share” to ester content.
