Velier has been founded by Casimiro Chaix in Italy in 1947 and is perhaps the world’s most well-known independent rum bottler, even if they understand themselves basically as co-bottlers. It is definitely one of the most prominent. For our interests, things got interesting when Gian Luca Gargano bought shares of the company in 1983. Until then he was the head of marketing for Spiritis S.p.A., perhaps the biggest importer of spirits in Italy at that point in time. He brought in his brother Paolo Gargano in 1988 and in 1992 Velier released its first series of rums and whiskies. Anticipating the path that rum would take, the company started to develope a Caribbean rum line, importing rums on a grand scale. In 2001 for example, they sold almost half a million bottles of rum. In the same year, they also bought the entire output of Damoiseau’s 1980 vintage, a rhum agricole that was believed to be unsellable due to some molasses in the rum.
2004 marks a crucial stage in Veliers history. Luca discovers a stock of old barrels from the closed Caroni distillery and Velier buys a stake in Demerara Distiller Ltd (short: DDL), the only surviving distillery of formerly over 300 in Guyana. Having developed a special relationship with Yesu Persaud, then chairman and director of DDL, Luca is granted exclusive rights into DDL’s warehouses. Velier subsequently releases a whole series of fully tropically aged full proof Demerara rums (Demerara is a river in Guyana along which many sugar estates have settled. Demerara is synonymous with Guyanese rum), which are by many connoisseurs regarded to be among the best rums ever bottled. When Yesu retired as DDL’s chairman in 2015, Gargano’s exclusive access to DDL’s barrels has been terminated by the new management since they want to use them for their own El Dorado brand. For some, this marks the end of an era as we will likely never see tropically aged full proof Demerara rums of such a quality again.
In 2008 Velier began to explore other parts of the Caribbean, starting a partnership with Bielle distillery on Marie Galante, Guaedeloupe. Having experimented with new distillation and ageing techniques, they launched the RhumRhum line. One of the ideas was to ferment the fresh sugar cane juice without water and then double distilling it in copper pot stills. Four years later, Velier bottled three completely unaged Clairins from Haiti, the local style of agricoles. Rumors are that Velier already bought huge warehouses on Haiti to produce aged Clairins. We will see.
The most recent addition has been the Habitation Velier series, which puts an emphasis on very young or even unaged rums. Among them is also the first fully tropically aged rum from Hampden Estate.
A more elaborate biography of Velier by The Lone Caner can be found here.
A few Velier bottlings I have got to try:
Antigua
- Velier Antigua Distillery 2012 6YO (2012-2018), 66%
- Velier Antigua Distillery 2012 6YO SC (2012-2018), 68,5%
Australia
- Velier Beenleigh 15YO (2006-2021), 59%
Barbados
- Habitation Velier Foursquare 2013 2YO (2013-2015), 64%
- Habitation Velier Last Ward 2007 10YO (Mount Gilboa) (2007-2017), 59%
- Habitation Velier Last Ward 2009 9YO (Mount Gilboa) (2009-2018), 59%
- Habitation Velier Mount Gay 9YO (2011-2020), 52,3%
- Velier Elliot Erwitt Foursquare 16YO (2005-2022), 61%
- Velier Elliot Erwitt Mount Gay 14YO (2007-2022), 60%
- Velier Foursquare 2006 (2006-2016), 62%
- Velier Foursquare Destino (Drops Series) 14YO (2003-2017), 61%
- Velier Foursquare Destino 14YO (2003-2017), 61%
- Velier Foursquare Patrimonio 14YO (2004-2019), 58%
- Velier Foursquare Plenipotenziario 12YO (2007-2019), 60%
- Velier Foursquare Principia, 62%
- Velier Foursquare Triptych, 56%
- Velier Mount Gilboa 9YO (2008-2017), 66%
- Velier Rockley (WIRD) 11YO (1986-1997), 46%
Cuba
Guadeloupe
- Habitation Velier Muller LL IV/3177 2015, 59%
- Rhum Rhum 2007 (2007-2017), 57%
- Rhum Rhum Liberation 2010, 45%
- Rhum Rhum Liberation 2012 Integrale, 59,8%
- Rhum Rhum Liberation 2015, 45%
- Rhum Rhum Liberation 2015 Integrale, 58,4%
- Rhum Rhum Liberation 2017, 45%
- Rhum Rhum Liberation 2017 Integrale, 58,4%
- Rhum Rhum PMG Blanc, 41%
- Rhum Rhum PMG Blanc, 56%
- Velier Basseterre Vieux (Montebello) 1995 (1995-2008), 58,2%
- Velier Basseterre Vieux (Montebello) 1997 (1997-2008), 49,2%
- Velier Bologne 7YO (2014-2022), 54,9%
- Velier Damoiseau 18YO (1980-2002), 60,3%
- Velier Karukera 12YO (2009-2022), 60,4%
- Velier Marie Galante (Bielle) 2003 9YO, 49%
- Velier Montebello 19YO (2002-2022), 41,3%
- Velier Père Labat 2010 6YO 57,5%
Guyana
- Habitation Velier Port Mourant 2015, 59%
- Velier Albion 1983 25YO “AN” (1983-2008), 46,4%
- Velier Albion 1986 24YO “AW” (1986-2011), 60,9%
- Velier Albion 1994 17YO “AN” (1994-2011), 60,4%
- Velier Blairmont 1982 29YO “<B>” (1982-2011), 60,4%
- Velier Blarimont 1991 15YO “<B>” (1991-2006), 56%
- Velier Diamond 1981 31YO “S<W>” (1981-2012), 60,1%
- Velier Diamond 1993 12YO “<>W” (1993-2005), 61,4%
- Velier Diamond 1996 15YO “SVW” (1996-2011), 64,6%
- Velier Diamond 1996 16YO “SSN” (1996-2012), 63,4%
- Velier Diamond 1999 15YO “<S>” (1999-2014), 53,1%
- Velier Diamond 1999 15YO “SVW” (1999-2014), 64,7%
- Velier Diamond & Port Mourant 1995 19YO “<SV>PM” (1995-2014), 62,1%
- Velier Diamond & Versailles “SVSG” 1996 18YO (1996-2014), 57,9%
- Velier Enmore 1987 13YO (1987-2000), 56,5%
- Velier Enmore (Versailles) 1988 20YO (1988-2008), 51,9%
- Velier Enmore “ELCR” 1995 15YO (1995-2010), 61,2%
- Velier Enmore & Port Mourant 1998 16YO “EHPM” (1998-2014), 62,6%
- Velier La Bonne Intention 15YO (1985-2000), 40%
- Velier Port Mourant 1972 36YO “PM” (1972-2008), 47,8%
- Velier Port Mourant 1974 34YO “PM” (1974-2008), 54,5%
- Velier Port Mourant 1975 32YO “PM” (1975-2008), 56,7%
- Velier Port Morant 1985 11YO (1985-1997), 46%
- Velier Port Mourant 1993 13YO “PM” (1993-2006), 65%
- Velier Port Mourant 1997 15YO “UPM” (1997-2012), 65,7%
- Velier Skeldon 1973 32YO “SWR” (1973-2005), 60,5%
- Velier Skeldon 1978 27YO “SWR” (1978-2005), 60,4%
- Velier Uitvlugt 1985 27YO “UF30E” (1985-2012), 60,7%
- Velier Uitvlugt 1988 17YO “ICBU” (1988-2005), 52,9%
- Velier Uitvlugt (Port Mourant) 1990 17YO “MPM” (1990-2008), 66%
- Velier Uitvlugt 1996 18YO “Modified GS” (1996-2014), 57,2%
- Velier Uitvlugt 1997 17YO “ULR” (1997-2014), 59,7%
- Velier Versailles 1998 9YO (1998-2007), 46,5%
Haiti
- Clairin Ansyen Casimir 2016 19 mois #CARCA7, 49,5%
- Clairin Ansyen Casimir 2016 19 mois #CARCA8, 49,6%
- Clairin Ansyen Casimir 2016 21 mois #CARCA1, 50,1%
- Clairin Ansyen Le Rocher 2017 21 mois #LR17JD-2, 47,7%
- Clairin Ansyen Le Rocher 2017 21 mois #LR17BL, 47,7%
- Clairin Ansyen Le Rocher 2017 36 mois #LR17BI-3, 46,5%
- Clairin anysen Le Rocher 2017 35 mois #LR17MG-2, 48,6%
- Clairin Ansyen Sajous 2016 19 mois #CARSA1, 54,7%
- Clairin Ansyen Sajous 2016 19 mois #CARSA4, 54,6%
- Clairin Ansyen Sajous 2016 19 mois #CARSA5, 54,6%
- Clairin Ansyen Sajous 2016 19 mois #CARSA10, 53,1%
- Clairin Ansyen Sajous 2017 16 mois #SA17CR-2, 54,5%
- Clairin Ansyen Sajous 2017 21 mois #SJ17HP-4, 54,5%
- Clairin Ansyen Sajous 2017 21 mois #SJ17BI-1, 55,4%
- Clairin Ansyen Sajous 2017 22 mois #SJ17JD-4, 55,8%
- Clairin Ansyen Sajous 2017 37 mois #SJ17BI-3-2, 54,6%
- Clairin Ansyen Vaval 2017 22 mois #VV16MG-1, 50.2%
- Clairin Casimir (Distillerie Douglas Casimir, Barraderes) 2013, 54%
- Clairin Casimir (Distillerie Douglas Casimir, Barraderes) 2015 “Batch 2”, 53,4%
- Clairin Casimir (Distillerie Douglas Casimir, Barraderes) 2019, 49,5%
- Clairin Casimir (Distillerie Douglas Casimir, Barraderes) 2016, 48,3%
- Clairin Communal (Blend des quatre communes), 43%
- Clairin Communal Ansyen (Blend des quatre communes, 49,3%
- Clairin Le Rocher (Distillerie La Rocher, Pignon) 2017, 46,5%
- Clairin Le Rocher (Distillerie La Rocher, Pignon) 2019, 47,2%
- Clairin Sajous (Distillerie Chelo, Saint Michel L’Attalaye) 2013, 53,5%
- Clairin Sajous (Distillerie Chelo, Saint Michel L’Attalaye) 2016, 54,3%
- Clairin Sajous (Distillerie Chelo, Saint Michel L’Attalaye) 2019, 56,4%
- Clairin Sonson 2018, 53,2%
- Clairin Vaval (Distillerie Arawaks, Cavaillon) 2015 “Batch 2”, 51,1%
- Clairin Vaval (Distillerie Arawaks, Cavaillon) 2016, 48,8%
- Clairin Vaval (Distillerie Arawaks, Cavaillon) 2019, 49,3%
- Clairin Wolrd Championship 2016, 46%
- Clairin World Championship 2017, 46%
- Providence Blanc “First Drops” (2020), 57%
- Providence “Dunder & Syrup” (2021), 56%
- Velier The Vieux Labbé (Barbancourt) 21YO (1999-2021), 58,9%
Jamaica
- E.A. Sheer & Velier Monymusk Continental “EMB” 14YO (2004-2019), 64,8%
- E.A. Sheer & Velier Monymusk Continental “MMW” 11YO (2008-2019), 63,9%
- E.A. Sheer & Velier Monymusk Tropical “EMB” 14YO (13YO!) (2006-2019), 64,8%
- E.A. Sheer & Velier Monymusk Tropical “MMW” 11YO (2008-2019), 63,9%
- Habitation Velier Forsyths 151 Proof White (Worthy Park) (2017), 75,5%
- Habitation Velier Forsyths WP 502 (Worthy Park) (2015), 57%
- Habitation Velier Forsyths (Worthy Park) 10YO (2005-2015), 57,8%
- Habitation Velier Forsyths (Worthy Park) 11YO “WPM” (2006-2017), 58%
- Habitation Velier Hampden <>H (2018), 66%
- Habitation Velier Hampden C<>H 10YO (2010-2020), 68,5%
- Habitation Velier Hampden HGML 9YO (2010-2019), 62%
- Habitation Velier Hampden HLCF 6YO (2010-2016), 68,5%
- Habitation Velier Hampden LFCH 7YO (2011-2018), 60,5%
- Habitation Velier Hampden LROK 6YO (2010-2016), 67%
- Habitation Velier Hampden LROK (2018), 62,5%
- Habitation Velier Hampden LROK/ HLCF 6YO (2010-2016), 60%
- Habitation Velier Hampden <>H 4YO (2016-2020), 62%
- Habitation Velier Long Pond STC♥E (2018), 62,5%
- Habitation Velier Long Pond TECA 14YO (2005-2019), 62%
- Habitation Velier Monymusk EMB 9YO (2010-2019), 62%
- Velier Appleton Estate 26YO (1994-2020), 60%
- Velier Appleton Estate 25YO (1995-2020), 63%
- Velier Appleton Estate 14YO (2003-2021), 63%
- Velier Cambridge (Long Pond) STC♥E 13YO (2005-2018), 62,5%
- Velier Elliot Erwitt Jamaica Hampden “HLCF” 5YO (2016-2022), 60%
- Velier Hampden “<>H” -LMDW- 9YO (2010-2019), 69,2%
- Velier Hampden “<H>” 7YO (2010-2017), 62%
- Velier Hampden “HLCF/DOK” -The One and Only- 9YO (2010-2019), 61%
- Velier Hampden “LFCH” -Whisky Live Singapore- 8YO (2011-2019), 61,7%
- Velier Hampden “LROK” -Salon du Rhum- 9YO (2010-2019), 63,2%
- Velier Hampden “LROK” -The New York Edition- 9YO (2010-2019), 59%
- Velier Hampden “OWH” -Berlin Bar Convent- 8YO (2011-2019), 59,5%
- Velier Hampden “OWH” -Whisky Live Paris- 7YO (2012-2019), 62,8%
- Velier Long Pond 12YO (1985-1997), 46%
- Velier Monymusk “Villa Paradisetto” 24YO “EMB” (1995-2019), 67%
- Velier Monymusk “Villa Paradisetto” 13YO (2007-2020), 68,5%
- Velier/ NRJ Vale Royal (Long Pond) VRW 12YO (2006-2018), 62,5%
- Velier/ NRJ Long Pond TECA 15YO (2003-2018), 62,5%
- Velier/ NRJ Long Pond TECA 12YO (2007-2019), 63%
- Velier/ NRJ Long Pond TECC 11YO (2007-2018), 63%
- Velier/ NRJ Monymusk MBS 9YO (2010-2019), 62%
- Velier Papalin Jamaica 7YO (Worthy Park & Hampden), 47%
- Velier Papalin Jamaica 7YO (Worthy Park & Hampden), 57,18%
Japan
La Réunion
- Habitation Velier Savanna HERR (2018), 62,5%
- Indian Ocean Stills Savanna 6YO (2012-2019), 61%
- Velier Isautier 16YO (2005-2021), 65%
- Velier Isautier 16YO (2005-2021), 69%
- Velier Isautier 15YO (2007-2022), 57%
- Velier Savanna HERR “Last HERR” 12YO (2006-2020), 63,2%
Martinique
Mauritius
- Indian Ocean Stills Chamarel 4YO (2014-2019), 58%
- Velier Chamarel 6YO (2011-2017), 55,5%
- Velier Chamarel “Villa Paradisetto” 7YO (2013-2020), 54,6%
- Velier Chamarel 2010 Blend 2014, 56,5%
St. Lucia
Seychelles
- Habitation Velier Takamaka (2021), 56%
- Habitation Velier Takamaka 3YO (2018-2021), 60,8%
South Africa
- Habitation Velier Mhoba 4YO (2017-2021), 64,6%
- Velier Mhoba “FAQ Plastic” 4YO (2017-2021), 64,3%
Trinidad
- Velier Caroni 100% Trinidad Rum 12YO (2000–2012), 50%
- Velier Caroni 100% Trinidad Rum 15YO (1998-2013), 52%
- Velier Caroni 100% Trinidad Rum 17YO (1998–2016), 55%
- Velier Caroni 100% Trinidad Rum 21YO (1996-2017), 57,18%
- Velier Caroni 1974 34YO (1974-2009), 66,1%
- Velier Caroni 1982 24YO (1982-2006), 58,3%
- Velier Caroni 1983 22YO (1983-2005), 52%
- Velier Caroni 1983 25YO (1983-2008), 55%
- Velier Caroni 1984 22YO (1984-2006), 54,6%
- Velier Caroni 1985 15YO “Blended” (1985-2000), 49,5%
- Velier Caroni 1985 15YO “Old Legend” (1985-2000), 43,4%
- Velier Caroni 1985 20YO “HTR” (1985-2005), 62%
- Velier Caroni 1985 20YO “HTR – Single Cask” (1985-2005), 75,5%
- Velier Caroni 1985 21YO “Musicians” (1985-2006), 58,8%
- Velier Caroni 1988 15YO “Blended” (1988-2008), 43%
- Velier Caroni 1989 16YO (1989-2005), 62%
- Velier Caroni 1989 17YO “LTR” (1989-2006), 64,2%
- Velier Caroni 1991 19YO (1991-2010), 55%
- Velier Caroni 1992 18YO (1992-2010), 55%
- Velier Caroni 1992 18YO (1992-2010), 61,2%
- Velier Caroni 1992 20YO “Hangar” (1992-2012), 55%
- Velier Caroni 1992 20YO “Hangar” (1992-2012), 60,21%
- Velier Caroni 1993 17YO Blended (1993-2010), 44,4%
- Velier Caroni 1994 17YO (1994-2011), 52%
- Velier Caroni 1994 18YO “Hangar” (1992-2012), 55%
- Velier Caroni 1994 18YO “Hangar” (1994-2012), 62,59%
- Velier Caroni 1994 23YO “Guyana Stock” (1994-2017), 57,18%
- Velier Caroni 1994 23YO “Guyana Stock” (1994-2017), 59%
- Velier Caroni 1994 23YO “The Caroni Magnum – HTR” (1994-2017), 59,8%
- Velier Caroni 1996 17YO (1996-2013), 55%
- Velier Caroni 1996 17YO (1996-2013), 63%
- Velier Caroni 1996 20YO “100° Proof”(1996-2016), 57,1%
- Velier Caroni 1996 20YO “Stefano Cremaschi” (1996-2016), 70,8%
- Velier Caroni 1996 20YO “Trespassers” (1996-2016), 70,1%
- Velier Caroni 1996 20YO “Triology – Trinidad” (1996-2016), 70,28%
- Velier Caroni 1996 20YO “Triology – Guyana” (1996-2016), 64,46%
- Velier Caroni 1996 20YO “Triology – Blend” (1996-2016), 66,11%
- Velier Caroni 1996 20YO “Bottled for Kirsch Whisky” (1996-2017), 62,4%
- Velier Caroni 1996 21YO “The Caroni Magnum – Blended” (1996-2017), 65,1%
- Velier Caroni 1996 21YO “The Caroni Magnum – HTR” (1996-2017), 64,3%
- Velier Caroni 1996 22YO “Employees – John “D” Eversley” (1996-2018), 66,5%
- Velier Caroni 1996 23YO “Employees – David “Sarge” Charran” (1996-2019), 66,5%
- Velier Caroni 1996 23YO “Employees – Vijay Ranmarine” (1996-2020), 64,5%
- Velier Caroni 1996 23YO “Tasting Gang” (1996-2019), 63,5%
- Velier Caroni 1996 23YO “The Last” (1996-2019), 61,9%
- Velier Caroni 1998 16YO “No Smoking” (1998-2014), 55%
- Velier Caroni 1998 16YO “Sign” (1998-2014), 64,5%
- Velier Caroni 1998 20YO “Employees – Dennis “X” Gopaul” (1998-2018), 69,5%
- Velier Caroni 1998 21YO “Employees – Kevon Moreno” (1998-2019), 69,5%
- Velier Caroni 1998 21YO “Employees – Ganesh “Buju” Ramgobie” (1998-2020), 67%
- Velier Caroni 1998 21YO “Employees – Balas “Brigade” Bhaggan” (1998-2020), 68,4%
- Velier Caroni 1998 21YO “Employees – Dayanand “Yunkoo” Balloon” (1998-2020), 68,3%
- Velier Caroni 2000 15YO “Millenium” (2000-2015), 60%
- Velier Caroni 2000 15YO “Juul’s” (2000-2015), 70,2%
- Velier Caroni 2000 15YO “The Nectar” (2000-2015), 70,4%
- Velier Caroni 2000 15YO “Ullrich AG” (2000-2015), 70,3%
- Velier Caroni 2000 17YO “Eataly” (2000-2017), 68,4%
- Velier Caroni 2000 17YO “The Whisky Exchange” (2000-2017), 70,4%
- Velier Caroni 2000 17YO US Version (2000-2017), 55%
- Velier Caroni 2000 17YO EU Version (2000-2017), 55%
- Velier Caroni 2000 18YO “Lion’s Whisky” (2000-2018), 65,4%
- Velier Caroni 2000 18YO “Replica – 100th Anniversary” (2000-2018), 51,4%
- Velier Caroni 2000 19YO “Employees – Nita “Nitz” Hogan” (2000-2020), 65,2%
- Velier Caroni 2000 19YO “Employees – Basedo “Dicky” Ramsarran” (2000-2020), 64,3%
USA
- Habitation Velier Privateer 3YO (2017-2020), 55,6%
- Habitation Velier Privateer 2020, 62%
- Velier Privateer “Villa Paradisetto” 3YO (2017-2020), 54,2%
Other
- Velier Royal Navy Blend (Guyana, Jamaica & Trinidad), 57,18%
- Velier Royal Navy Tiger Shark, 57,18%
- Veritas Blended Rum (Hampden & Foursquare), 47%