Saint James 15 years 2006 - 2021 Magnum Series #1 150cl

Nose

Elegant and complex with apricot, dried fruit and candied citrus, followed by floral notes, beeswax and leather. Ginger, coffee and delicate oak spices add further depth to its mature agricole character.

Palate

Rich and firm with candied orange, quince and dark fruit. Cocoa, coffee and nutmeg combine with spicy oak and the earthy, lightly vegetal notes that suit long-aged rhum agricole so well.

Finish

Long and characterful with apricot preserve, dark fruits and vanilla. Liquorice, roasted notes, spices and mature oak linger beautifully.

Saint James is one of the historic names of Martinique and traces its origins back to 1765, when rum was produced at Habitation Trou Vaillant and exported under the Saint James name. Over the centuries, the brand became firmly established within the island’s rum culture. Production is based in Sainte-Marie in north-eastern Martinique, where Saint James brings together its sugar cane fields, distillery and ageing cellars.

Saint James produces rhum agricole from freshly pressed sugar cane juice, which is fermented and then distilled in traditional Creole columns. This production method forms the basis for both white rum and matured expressions, including vintage bottlings. The rums are produced under the AOC Martinique designation, a protected appellation that sets requirements for aspects such as sugar cane, fermentation, distillation and maturation.

With its long history, broad range and close connection to the agricultural and distilling traditions of Martinique, Saint James is regarded as one of the best known representatives of classic rhum agricole.

Velier is one of the most influential independent bottlers and importers in the modern rum world. The company was founded in Genoa in 1947 by Casimiro Chaix and initially specialised in importing wine and spirits. A major turning point came in 1983, when Luca Gargano acquired a share in Velier and increasingly directed the company towards distinctive and authentic spirits.

Among rum enthusiasts, Velier became particularly famous for its selections of mature Demerara rums from Guyana and for discovering remaining stocks from Trinidad’s closed Caroni Distillery in 2004. Many of these rums had been fully matured in the tropics and were bottled at high or natural strength, accompanied by unusually detailed information about origin and production.

Projects involving Hampden Estate, Haitian Clairin and the Habitation Velier series have also had a major influence on the way enthusiasts understand rum. Velier places strong emphasis on traditional production methods, origin, transparency and the character of the original distillery. This uncompromising approach has given Velier an almost legendary reputation among serious rum enthusiasts.