Features

Origin: Jamaica (blend of three pot still rums)
Type: Overproof old agricultural rum
Bottler: Velier (Luca Gargano)
Degree: 57%
Capacity: 70 cl (with case)
Aging: 5 years in tropical oak barrels (Jamaican climatic conditions)
Blend: Worthy Park WPL (60–120 g/HLAP), Long Pond STCE (550–700 g/HLAP), Hampden C<>H (1,300–1,400 g/HLAP)
Coloring: Natural, no added coloring
Filtration: Non-chill filtered

Tasting notes

Nose: Rich and powerful, revealing medicinal (bandage, arnica), spicy (clove) and mineral (rubber) aromas, on an empyreumatic (fuel) background. After aeration, exotic fruits (roasted pineapple, ripe pear, plum), honeyed notes (acacia) and delicate spices (ginger) appear, bringing a seductive roundness.
Palate: Lively and firm, it displays a strong medicinal character (balm, camphor) then evolves towards intense spices (clove, nutmeg, star anise), before becoming more gourmet with nuances of rice and aniseed candy which prolong the complexity.
Finish: Long and full-bodied, combining ripe notes of roasted pineapple , a herbaceous freshness (peppermint) and a grainy chocolate texture. Vanilla coats the palate, adding a silky and elegant consistency.

Pairings and tasting moments

Best enjoyed in a tulip glass to capture the full aromatic palette. As a powerful aperitif , serve it neat or with a small ice cube to gradually release the medicinal aromas. It pairs wonderfully with smoked beef carpaccio seasoned with black pepper and Parmesan shavings, where the salinity and richness of the dish highlight the spicy and empyreumatic dimension of the rum. For a gourmet dessert , pair it with caramelized pineapple cake or a lime meringue pie , which will echo the notes of roasted pineapple and hints of citrus. For a more salty-sweet pairing, offer roasted nuts with sea salt or pan-fried foie gras on toast, to enhance the medicinal character and smoky power.

Product History

PAPALIN 5 Year Old Jamaica High Ester 57% is the heir to a blending tradition initiated in 2003 by Luca Gargano of Velier . Originally, Papalin took the form of a unique blend of Cuban and Venezuelan rums and a touch of Caroni. In 2021, the collection is reborn to celebrate the Jamaican art of rum, harmonizing three high ester distillates: Worthy Park WPL (60–120 g/HLAP), Long Pond STCE (550–700 g/HLAP) and Hampden C<>H (1,300–1,400 g/HLAP). Aged for 5 years in Jamaica's tropical climate, each component develops a singular aromatic personality – medicinal, mineral, empyreumatic – before being blended to create an intensely balanced experience. Bottled at 57%, this Overproof version pays homage to Jamaica, with an airy aromatic signature deeply rooted in its roots.

Testimonials from our customers

• ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
  “A Jamaican monument! The power of the esters blends wonderfully with the vanilla roundness and the chocolate finish.”
  — Sophie M., Paris
• ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
  “Papalin 57% is an aromatic explosion: medicinal, mineral, spicy and fruity, all in elegance. A unique experience.”
  — Marc L., Lyon

The brand

Velier , founded in 1947, stands as the heir to the Genoese explorers, first as an importer of wines and champagnes, then, under the leadership of Luca Gargano , a world reference in authentic spirits. Gargano, with experience at Saint James in Martinique, placed Velier at the heart of major discoveries – acquisition of Caroni stocks in 2004, development of distilleries in Guyana (Skeldon 1978, Port Mourant 1972, Albion 1989) and exploration of Haitian clairin in 2012. In 2016, the Habitation Velier range was launched. Papalin, born in 2003, embodies the art of international blending, and this 5 year old Jamaica High Ester 57% version illustrates the quest for Jamaican excellence, combining pot still tradition and rigorous selection.

About the distillery

Jamaica is one of the historic cradles of pot-still agricultural rum, a legacy that dates back to the ^17th century, when English colonization introduced sugar cane and developed an industry based on the traditional pot still. On the island, estates such as Worthy Park , Long Pond , and Hampden have shaped the identity of Jamaican rums, renowned for their concentration of esters – key aromatic compounds – which sometimes reaches peaks (up to 1,400 g/HLAP at Hampden). The tropical climate, with its high temperatures and regular rainfall, accelerates the interaction between the distillate and the wood during aging, thus concentrating the empyreumatic, spicy, and fruity aromas.

Pot stills, intended for discontinuous distillation, require rigorous technical mastery: two passes for the wash still (first distillation) and one pass for the spirit still (second distillation). Each pass lasts approximately 8 hours, or 24 hours to complete a run, allowing for careful separation of heads, hearts, and tails. This method preserves the esters, giving Jamaican rums their medicinal signature (notes of bandage, tar), their empyreumatic richness (fuel oil, rubber), and their spicy accents (clove, nutmeg), while leaving room for fruity (pineapple, banana) and floral (mimosa, broom) notes.

Oak barrels, often imported from America or France, are used to age rums in tropical warehouses, where the heat and humidity promote accelerated maturation. At Worthy Park, cypress wood cellars rise amidst the hills, providing natural ventilation; at Long Pond, the elevation above the southern coast exposes the barrels to sea breezes, creating an unexpectedly salty profile; Hampden, meanwhile, has remained almost untouched since the 19th ^century , retaining traditional stills and an inimitable style.

When Velier decided to blend these three pillars of Jamaican rum to create PAPALIN 5 Year Old Jamaica High Ester 57% , it was a true tribute to pot still excellence. The blend combines the aromatic balance of Worthy Park, the spicy complexity of Long Pond, and the explosive depth of Hampden. Each component is handpicked, aged for five years in tropical barrels, then blended in small batches to reveal a complete sensory experience: the medicinal and empyreumatic heritage, the zesty accents, the herbal freshness, and the fruity sweetness.

With this creation, Velier extends the Jamaican tradition by sharing a contemporary vision of pot still rum: a spirit that transcends borders, rooted in an exceptional terroir where the alchemy of climate, wood, and local expertise combine to offer a pure, authentic, and immersive expression of Jamaican character. Enthusiasts can thus dive into the unique world of these legendary distilleries, rediscover the art of blending, and celebrate the aromatic richness of an island that shaped the legend of pot still rum.