Montebello, 1995, Velier Basseterre, Rhum Guadeloupe

Velier Basseterre Rhum Vieux Guadeloupe 1995

 This bottling from the Italian bottler Velier was distilled on Guadeloupe in the Montebello (Carrère) Distillery in 1995. In 2006 the blend of Rhum Agricole and molasses rum was transferred to storage barrels (so-called “Dead Vats” ) at Velier in order to stop the ripening process.

The bottling then took place in January 2008 in Cask Strength of 58.2% . The powerful and aromatic Rhum Vieux is therefore around 10 or 12 years old, depending on how you look at it.

Titled, Basseterre, meaning “Lowland.”

The Dolomie family founded the Montebello Distillery in 1930, Petit-Bourg is the small village located in the eastern part of Basse-Terre. The distillery remained practically unchanged until it continued to grow in the 70s. Soon to become one of the most active in Guadeloupe. Even though the label reads Basseterre (a city on Saint Kitts and Nevis), the Velier Basseterre Vieux 2007 actually comes from Basse-Terre, the western half of Guadeloupe. On the back label we can read in tiny letters “Produit par Distillerie Carrère, Petit-Bourg. Carrère, that’s the former name of Montebello at the east end of Basse-Terre. Montebello’s recent history dates to 1968, when Jean Marsolle (brother of Henry Marsolle, who owns and operates the Domaine de Séverin distillery on Guadeloupe) and his son bought the distillery and changed the name from Distillerie Carrère to Montebello.

Country: Guadeloupe

Distillery: Carrère distillery, home of Montebello in Guadeloupe

Bottler: Velier

Cask type: Oak barrel

Still: Single Column

Congeners: N/A

Destilled: October 12, 1995

Bottled: 2008

Age: 10 to 12 years old.