Habitation Velier Long Pond 2005 Jamaica Pure Single Rum 14 Year TECA – 62%
Stats: Independent Bottling of Long Pond rum from Jamaica that was distilled in a double retort pot still in 2005 following a fermentation process involving dunder and muck, aged 14 years at origin with an angel’s share greater than 80%. It was bottled at 62% ABV and boasts an ester level of 1285.4 gr/hlpa, making it Tilston Estate Continental ‘A’ (TECA), their third highest ester mark.
Source: Sample provided by a generous rum friend in the North East.
Conditions: Consumed neat in a Glencairn over the course of two sessions.
Nose: Mild heat, cardamom, cinnamon, caramel corn, minerality, light varnish, butterscotch
Mouth: Bouquet of tropical fruit, cinnamon, vanilla, moderate heat, treacle, black tea, trashy industrial funk, salinity, butterscotch
Final Thoughts: This is a quality Jamaican rum that lacks the wildness I’d expect from such an ester bomb. The long tropical aging tempered the insanity one would expect and made for a subdued albeit enjoyable experience.
My Rating: 4/5
My Scale:
1 – I don’t want this in my mouth ever again
2 – Best used for mixing
3 – Decent sipper
4 – Very enjoyable
5 – I’m buying a back up bottle
Austin Rum Society 