Privateer 2017 Velier 3 Year Old / Warren Khong Villa Paradisetto

Velier was founded by Casimir Chaix in Genoa in 1947 as a wine and spirits importer and distributor. By the 1980s they were still a small family-company with less than ten staff. This all changed in 1986 when it was purchased by Luca Gargano, a former brand ambassador for Saint James who was at the time still in his twenties. Under his direction, they selected their first single cask whiskies in 1992, and their first rum in 1996. In the decades that followed, Velier have gone on to become one of the most collectible brands in the industry, and Gargano has positioned them as the one of the foremost authorities and bottlers of rum anywhere in the world.

This 2017 vintage American rum from Privateer was bottled in 2020 to commemorate Velier's 32nd and final year at their offices in Villa Paradisetto. Bottled at barrel proof after 3 years of tropical maturation. This is one of six exclusive releases, each featuring a specially commissioned label by long-time collaborator, Warren Khong. 

Privateer was founded in 2011 by Andrew Cabot, and the distillery is located in Boston, Massachusetts. Under the guidance of master distiller, Maggie Campbell, the distillery has true emphasis on craft production. It useds only Grade A (also known as “Fancy”) US molasses, and for its white rum single origin molasses from one valley in Guatemala. The rum is double distilled, first in a thousand-gallon Vendome pot, then in a copper eau-de-vie still, a hybrid pot/column still with an adjustable plate configuration. It then bottled in accordance with the Bottled in Bond of 1897, which was intended for American whiskey, but ensures the spirit blended is from one distillery and produced in a single distilling season. This transparent approach has won Privateer a loyal following of connoisseurs and collectors alike among its fans.