Hampden 1959 Van Wees Private Stock: A Chance Discovery Bottled by Velier

Few names carry as much weight in the world of fine rum as Velier and its founder Luca Gargano. Revered for his uncompromising approach to cask selection and his deep respect for traditional production methods, Gargano has played a pivotal role in reshaping how rum is perceived, collected and understood. Through Velier, he has championed authenticity, transparency and heritage, working closely with distilleries to release rums that honour both their place of origin and the people behind them. Over the years, this philosophy has resulted in some truly extraordinary bottlings, often released in extremely limited numbers. 

One such rarity now appears in our January auction, with two bottles of the remarkable Hampden 1959 Cees van Wees Private Stock available to collectors. 

Distilled at the Hampden Estate distillery in Jamaica in 1959, this extraordinary rum began its life with three years of tropical ageing before being shipped to Amsterdam in 1962. There, it continued to mature in oak cask until 1988, when it was transferred into a demijohn and stored in the cellars of Cees van Wees. From that moment, the spirit effectively paused in time, resting quietly in glass for more than three decades, unseen and almost forgotten. 

The story of its rediscovery is one of those rare moments that feels almost mythical. In 2019, during a visit to the A. van Wees Distilleerderij de Ooievaar, Luca Gargano was shown Cees van Wees’ extensive rum collection. As he prepared to leave for the airport, his eye was caught by an old demijohn tucked away in a corner. The handwritten label hinted at something remarkable, Jamaican rum from 1959. With moments to spare, Gargano asked if he could nose the liquid and he immediately recognised it for what it was, a very old Hampden of extraordinary character. 

At the time, nothing more could be done, but the memory of that aroma stayed with him. Several years later, Gargano returned to Amsterdam to enquire once again about the demijohn and its contents. Sadly, by then, Cees van Wees had passed away. In 2022, working alongside his daughter Fenny van Wees and the A. van Wees company, Gargano assisted with the careful bottling of this remarkable spirit. The demijohn yielded just 218 bottles, bottled at an astonishing natural strength of 71.9% ABV, a testament to both the spirit’s resilience and its exceptional quality. 

Although the rum dates back to 1959, it was matured in wood for approximately 28 years in total, first in Jamaica and then in Amsterdam. Once transferred to glass in 1988, maturation effectively ceased, preserving the spirit exactly as it was until its rediscovery more than 30 years later. 

The involvement of A. van Wees adds another layer of historical significance. Founded in 1872, the Dutch company originally operated as a wholesaler and distributor of spirits including genever, bitters and liqueurs. Under the stewardship of Cees van Wees in the 1970s, the business refocused on craft distilling and today operates the de Ooievaar distillery in Amsterdam. The Hampden 1959 stands as a unique intersection between this historic Dutch house and one of Jamaica’s most iconic distilleries. 

Some have even been incredibly fortunate to taste this rum, including 88 Bamboo who described it as “unlike any Hampden I have encountered before” noting a distinctly confection-like nose and an uplifting, bright palate of tropical fruits, iodine and leather. 

With only 218 bottles released and two now offered in our January auction, the Hampden 1959 Cees van Wees Private Stock represents a once in a generation opportunity. It is not just a remarkable rum, but a bridge between eras, people and traditions, and a rare chance to experience old style Jamaican rum at its very best.