BEENLEIGH 2015 5 YEARS OLD 59% VELIER - ARID / DESERT MATURATION

Distilled in 2015 in a single column and redistilled in the Old Copper pot still, this was aged at an average temperature of 27.3 degrees celsius and humidity between 35 and 59%.

Bottled in 2021, this is the 'Arid / Desert  Maturation' version.

THE BRAND

Beenleigh, established in 1884, is the oldest registered distillery in Australia. Its history dates back to 1865 when John Davy and Francis Gooding, a Englishmen duo, purchased 300 acres of land fronting the Albert River with the intent to grow cotton.

Legend says a man called James Stewart, better known as ‘The Bosun’, was operating a floating sugar mill aboard the S.S. Walrus, distilling the excess produced molasses and producing rum on the sly. In 1884 the S.S. Walrus was found on the shores with no-one aboard, except the copper pot still by ‘The Bosun’, thus Beenleigh Artisan Distillery was born, so named in honor of the homeland of John Davy and Francis Gooding.

Its Old Copper pot still dating from 1887, is the only one of its kind in Australia and very similar to the world famous Port Mourant still in Guyana at Diamond Distillery. Since 1981, the distillery also operates a continuous column still and production begins with Queensland sugar cane and an exclusive yeast strain.

THE BOTTLER

Velier was founded by the Chaix family in Genova in 1947 as a small traditional company specialised in the importation and distribution of wines, champagnes and spirits. In 1983, a young Luca Gargano, former brand ambassador for Saint James at that time, acquired shares in Velier. Under his influence the company began spacialising in the importation of outstanding spirits exclusively destinated to the Italian market. By the early 90s Luca heard about a legendary stock of Saint James rum dating back probably to 1885 and bottled in 1952. After a complex negotiation, he finally managed to acquire the entire stock. This was only the first of a list of legendary selections to come in the following years.