Velier Papalin

Papalin is Velier's accessible take on Jamaican funk, a vatting of pure pot still rum drawn mainly from Worthy Park with a measure of Hampden, two of the island's most respected estates. Both work entirely on pot stills, the source of Jamaica's weight, oiliness and ester driven aroma, and Velier bottles in its usual style, unsweetened and without added colouring.

At seven years and 47% it is pitched lower in proof and intensity than the estates' headline releases, which is the point. Expect overripe banana, pineapple and tropical fruit carried by lively esters, with vanilla and a dry hint of dark chocolate and oak from ex-bourbon ageing on the finish. The funk is present and genuine without tipping into the solvent extremes of the high marques, making this a fair daily pour and a sensible first step into the style.