Velier Nine Leaves Warren Khong Encrypted 2014

This encrypted 2014 Nine Leaves was selected by Velier, the Genoese house behind the most collectible names in rum, and bottled for Warren Khong. It is a single cask from the small Japanese pot still distillery, drawn at a powerful 64.8 percent and aged just three years, yet it drinks with far more depth than its youth suggests.

Distilled from molasses on a pot still and matured in ex bourbon, the cask strength pushes a rich, evolving profile of malt, chocolate, cocoa and caramel on the nose into a palate of hazelnut, roasted notes and dark chocolate. What sets it apart is a savoury, umami quality that runs alongside the sweetness, with a dry, spicy, oak driven finish that stays long and warm. The power is real, so it rewards patience and a little water, and it suits drinkers who chase intense, distinctive single casks.