NEISSON 46% LE CORSAIRE | VELIER

Bottle hand painted by Tatanka, a Martinique based craft company.

This is a special edition bottled for Velier.

THE BRAND

Neisson is a small distillery founded in 1931 on a plantation acquired by brothers Adrien and Jean Neisson in 1922, near a fishing village in Martinique. The distillery was saved by Claudine, daughter of Jean, who after the death of his father took over the leadership. Run today by the third generation, Gregory Vernant Neisson, son of Claudine, remains the last master blender owning a distillery on the entire island. 

Neisson is the youngest distillery in Martinique, the only one still operational even during World War II, which thanks to the historic 73 degrees Savalle still built in 1938, produces a rum “agricole” of the highest quality.

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.