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Basseterre 1997 – Velier

A rare and characterful Caribbean rum from Saint Kitts, this Basseterre 1997 bottling captures the spirit of a distillery that has since fallen silent. Distilled in 1997 at the historic Basseterre distillery and released by Velier, this rum stands as a testament to a lost chapter of West Indian rum-making, preserved through careful cask selection and restrained presentation.

Bottled at 49.2% ABV in a 700 ml format, this release reflects Velier’s early philosophy: authenticity, transparency, and respect for origin. Neither overworked nor excessively polished, it offers a direct expression of its distillery character - one shaped by tropical conditions, traditional methods, and time. As with many Velier releases from this period, the focus is on purity and balance rather than force.

Today, Basseterre bottlings are increasingly scarce and highly regarded among collectors, valued not only for their intrinsic quality but also for their historical significance. This 1997 vintage is a quiet classic - an elegant reminder of the diversity that once defined Caribbean rum.

Specifications

Type: Rum

Distillery: Basseterre

Bottler: Velier

Distilled: 1997

ABV: 49.2%

Bottle size: 700 ml

About the Distillery

The Basseterre distillery, located on the island of Saint Kitts, was once an integral part of the island’s sugar and rum industry. Drawing on molasses from local sugar production, the distillery produced rums that were robust yet balanced, shaped by tropical aging and traditional distillation practices. Following the decline of the sugar industry, the distillery closed, making surviving bottlings like this 1997 release rare witnesses to a vanished rum-making tradition.