Last Ward 16 Years 2007/2023 - Barbados Rum - Habitation Velier

Mount Gay, like its homeland of Barbados, is a pillar of the rum world. According to the earliest written records, the distillery was founded on the Caribbean island in 1703, making it the oldest operating distillery in the world. In 1918, the Bajan Ward family became part of the success story when they acquired Mount Gay Estate. The Wards still hold shares in the distillery today. The last family member to manage the distillery was Frank Ward.

With the Last Ward Barbados 2007, Velier honors the long-time family owners of the iconic distillery. This pure single rum is a cuvée of 13 barrels from the 2007 vintage, which were still owned by Frank Ward. Triple distilled in a pot still, the rum was filled into bourbon casks and aged for 16 years in the tropical climate of Barbados. 70 percent of this went to the angels. The power of the rum lies in an ever-changing and wonderfully expressive palette of flavors and aromas—from cardamom and mango to geranium and freshly squeezed orange to coffee and walnut.

Tasting Notes:
Nose: Refined, complex. Aromas reminiscent of Grande Champagne Cognac, such as candied apricot, leaves, and forest floor, transition to cardamom and nutmeg. Exotic fruits like mango and pomegranate join in with equal intensity, along with notes of precious wood.
Palate: Full-bodied, intense. Cane sugar, molasses, and geranium dominate the flavor palette. The mid-palate is refreshed with impressive vitality from pressed oranges.
Finish: Long, full. With sugar cane, roasted notes like coffee, and spices like ginger and cinnamon. Increasingly floral and vegetal (pipe tobacco), underscored by notes of walnut, hazelnut, and almond.