Habitation Velier Last Ward 2007 - 10 yr. - 59%
Context: Before Remy took full control in their 2014 acquisition, Frank Ward Jr. (who's family had a hand in Mt. Gay rum for about a century) did some special triple distilled rums on double-retort pot stills. He sold some of those 100% pot still rums (very hard to find 100% pot still Bajan rum) under the Mount Gilboa label. The 19 oldest casks from those runs were blended by Velier for the Last Ward releases (2007 and 2009).
100% Tropics aged (another rarity). Bottled at a high proof with no additives. It's the kind of special run that doesn't come around too often.
Nose: George T. Stagg levels of oak and leather. Raisins. Chocolates. Faint overripe banana. Grilling spice. It's an A+ nose for sure.
Flavors: Medicinal cherry. Rose petals. The kind of quality oak that's tough to come by these days. Finish stays floral and dips herbal - never losing the cherry or oak.
Palate Structure: Oak offers its own mini-ride on the back half of the palate. So hard to pull this off.
Alcohol Integration: Brings the heat right as far as it can to still 100% retain the flavors. This didn't seem to be the case early on in the bottle.
You’d Dig This If You Like:
Thomas Handy
MGP Rye: 100+ proof, 13+ years
Armagnac: 20-30 years, ~100 proof
Score: 8 (Stash One) The farther I get through the bottle, the better this gets. Some of the more volatile notes have calmed down. Other notes seem to have deepened and clarified. This started at a 6 for me and has been steady climbing. Might be time to snatch up one of the 2009s that I've seen still floating out there.
Rating System
10- Reevaluate My Budget
9 - Stash (Two If Able)
8 - Stash (One At The Right Price)
7 - Highly Recommend It To Strangers
6 - Solid - Above Average
5 - Acceptable For The Situation
4 - Not Vocally Complaining
3 - Wish I Was Drinking Something Else
2 - Nothing Nice To Say
1 - Drain Pour