Velier The Last Ward Barbados 2007 Rum (70cl, 60%)

A pure single rum from Barbados, distilled three times in pot stills and aged for sixteen years on the island. Velier married rum from thirteen casks of the 2007 vintage that had belonged to Frank Ward. The rum is made from molasses, matured solely in the tropical climate in former Bourbon barrels of American oak, and bottled in 2023 at 60% cask strength. It contains no added sugar or colouring and is not chill-filtered. The name Last Ward recalls Frank Ward, the last member of the long-standing owning family to run Mount Gay. The nose opens with candied apricot, leaves and forest floor, then cardamom and nutmeg, with mango, pomegranate and noble wood notes. The palate is full and intense, with sugar cane, molasses, geranium and fresh orange. The long finish brings sugar cane, roasted coffee beans, ginger, cinnamon, hyacinth, pipe tobacco, walnut, hazelnut and almond.