2014 Velier Indian Ocean Stills Chamarel 4 Year Old Cask Strength Mauritian Rum (700ml)

Part of a new range from Velier that brings together agricole expressions from Indian Ocean-based distilleries. This one's from Mauritius, however it doesn’t (yet) have license to use the term “agricole” on the label the way Martinique, Guadeloupe, Reunion and other classified agricole producing regions do.

Owners of the Beachcomber Hotel chain (one of the largest companies in Mauritius) are behind the venture which was founded in 2008 by the Couacaud family and named after an historic French landowner. Positioned on the south of the island surrounded by 35 hectares of sugar cane fields, hand harvests are the norm. Chamarel can produce lighter distillates in their Barbet single column still, or heavier styles using either their pot still 'Cognacaise' or 'Armagnacaise' still. This one's from a single column still. As mentioned, it's an agricole style, so it's entirely from fresh pressed sugar cane juice, not molasses. Following four years of tropical ageing it was bottled at 58%. Production was capped at 2284 bottles. The Chamarel rums have already received positive reviews from the likes of Serge Valentin at whiskyfun.com. Very limited stocks.