Velier Albion AN 1994

Albion is one of Guyana's lost estates, its marque surviving only through recreation on the country's remaining heritage stills, which makes any old Velier bottling under the name a finite and prized thing. This 1994, bottled at full proof after tropical ageing, comes from Luca Gargano's Velier, the most revered name in collectible rum.

Distilled from molasses on a wooden continuous Coffey and matured in ex-bourbon in the Caribbean heat, it pours dark and drinks dense: caramel, vanilla, liquorice and dried fruit on the nose, then woody depth, dark chocolate and vanilla across the palate, with a finish of liquorice, orange peel and toasted oak that runs on and on. At 60.4% it is intense and demanding, a once-in-a-while pour for drinkers who already love heavy Velier Demerara.