Velier Long Pond Vale Royal VRW 2006

Velier Long Pond Vale Royal VRW 2006 comes from Velier's revival of Long Pond, the historic Trelawny house, and sits at the calmer end of its range. The VRW marque belongs to the Vale Royal Wedderburn tradition, lower in ester than the distillery's wildest TECA and TECC marks, so the funk here is full and fruity rather than brutal. As a Velier bottling it is tropically aged at full proof with no added sugar, colouring or flavouring.

Distilled in 2006 and matured twelve years in the Jamaican heat in ex-bourbon casks, it shows vanilla and tropical fruit over esters and a glue-tinged lift, with dark chocolate, pepper and burnt sugar building through a woody, raisined finish. Tropical ageing concentrates the oak and integrates the strength, and at 62.5% it is powerful but well-knit. It suits drinkers who love Long Pond character but want it expressive and balanced rather than ferocious, equally rewarding neat or in a bold cocktail.