KARUKERA 2009 11 YEARS OLD 58,2% VELIER - JAPONIANI

This bottle from Rhumerie Karukera, was distilled in April 2009 at the oldest distillery in Guadeloupe, the Domaine de Marquisat de Sainte-Marie. Aged for 11 years at the distillery and bottled at full proof, this is a single cask part of the series the 'Japoniani' released by Velier in 2020.

One of 312 bottles.

The Esperance distillery, established by Louis-Philippe Henry Longueteau and currenctly owned by François Longueteau is the smallest and oldest distillery in Guadeloupe, dated 1890, overlooking the ocean and the island of Marie Galante. François Longueteau is the only farmer, master distiller and owner of a rum in Guadeloupe.

The distillery is surrounded by 70 hectares of the Domaine de Marquisat de Sainte-Marie, planted with two varieties of cane: the R 579, a soft cane, juicy, tasty and very fragrant, and the B 69.566, now famous blue cane, with which the Karukera rum is produced.

Karukera, the pre-Columbian name of Guadeloupe, is a brand born from the friendship and partnership between François Longueteau and Sylvain Guzzo, who decided to create a brand that comes only from blue cane and partially ages in fine French oak barrels. The distillation takes place in the classic creole columns, with maturation in white and French oaks.

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.