Rum Monymusk EMB G.Begnoni 1997 22y 67.9%

This special edition for Giuseppe Begnoni, is the result of a blend of two casks distilled in 1997, aged in Jamaica and bottled 22 years later at full proof with a 427,2 gr/hlpa of esters.

One of 442 bottles.

Giuseppe Begnoni, one of the most known whisky expert in the industy, started collecting whisky miniatures in 1969. According to someone, he’s the world’s greatest whisky collector. He’s also known for the biggest whisky collection acquisition ever, that of Edoardo Giaccone, former barman and owner of the legendary ‘Enoteca di Saló’ died in 1996.

THE BRAND

Monymusk is one of the oldest sugar plantations on the island, it has Scottish roots and was owned in the mid-18th century by Sir Archibald Grant. It is located in Lionel Town, Clarendon and the distillery was built in 1949 as part of the Monymusk Sugar Factory. Through the years, the distillery’s ownership has been transferred to several companies till when, in the 80s, its operation was transferred to National Rums of Jamaica Limited (NRJ), currently a company jointly owned by the Jamaican Government, Demerara Distillers in Guyana and Maison Ferrand in France. The Monymusk brand is named after the sugar factory and plantation in which the Clarendon distillery is located and represents the flagship of the brand.

The distillery can count two stills. The older one, made by Vendome in Louisville and the newest one delivered in 2009 from India’s Disti-Chem.

Thanks to its sugarcane plantations, Clarendon distills rum that sells to third-party bottlers and blenders, except for a small part sold with its own label.

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.