The Rhum Rhum distillery was created in Marie-Galante as part of a project launched in 2004 by Vittorio Giani Capovilla—a Veneto brandy and grappa distiller—and Luca Gargano—head of the Genoese importer and bottler Velier. Housed for a long time at Bielle, the distillery uses a pot still designed by Andreas Muller to produce rhum agricole from local varieties of sugarcane. The rums are then aged in bourbon casks and large French wine barrels.

Rhum Rhum Liberation 2017, found here in an under-cask strength version, was the brand’’s fourth release, after 2010, 2012 and 2015. The vintage refers to the year the rum was liberated, i.e. bottled, rather than the year of distillation. It is a rhum agricole distilled in a bain-marie pot still and aged in wine and bourbon casks, and the fruit of a collaboration between Giani Capovilla—a grappa and brandy distiller—and Luca Gargano—the owner of the Genoese independent bottler Velier. Velier was founded in Genoa by Casimir Chaix in 1947. It was originally a small, family-run business specializing in the import and distribution of wine and spirits. Luca Gargano, a former representative for Saint James and serious rum collector and enthusiast, bought the business in 1986 and began bottling whisky first in 1992 and then rum in 1996. Rums selected by Velier are only ever aged in a tropical climate, which explains both their concentration and the high angels’’ share. They are generally bottled at cask strength or just below. Its selections from Diamond’’s vaults, the Caroni bottlings and the bottlings from various distilleries in Jamaica, Barbados and other countries are key to rum’’s history and are today some of the most sought-after in the category.