Habitation Velier Forsyths 151 Proof White 2nd edition. A version of this type of rum was originally released back in 2016. This 2nd edition was released earlier this year. Should you be unsure which release you are buying the 2nd edition comes in a see through bottle and the first edition. was released in an opaque bottle.

Habitation Velier Forsyths 151 Proof White is an unaged white rum from the Worthy Park Estate in Jamaica. The still is noted rather than Worthy Park but going forward Worthy Park rums released by Habitation Velier.

In the UK a bottle of this 75.5% ABV monster will set you back around £80. It was distilled at bottled back in 2017 and is unaged. It is a 100% Pot Still rum. Habitation Velier Forsyths 151 Proof White was produced using 100% Estate Molasses.

In the glass Habitation Velier Forsyths 151 Proof White is crystal clear. This is of no surprise as it is unaged and taken straight from the still.

The nose is very fruity – sweet white grapes, mango, lychees, banana and a good hit of unsweetened Pineapple juice. Unsurprisingly another layer of sweetness is provided by young sweet alcohol. Which you either like or you don’t…..

Nosing a rum at such a high ABV can be quite difficult to judge its true character. Most blenders reduce the rums down even as low as 20% ABV when they are trying to identify all the notes in the rum. I won’t do that but I will add a drop or two of water and re-visist the nose.

With some water you get more of the rums true character and less of the really strong notes of alcohol.

You can sip this at the full 75.5% ABV but I must confess I do not find it an at all pleasant experience. It’s just too pungent and alcohol heavy to garner any real enjoyment. In my opinion.

So we’ll revisit the rum at a lower ABV with the help of some H2O to try and get some more nosing and tasting notes beyond “oh my fucking god its burning my throat and rotting my insides”

Water is your friend with this. A re-nosing reveals a smokiness which I had previously missed alongside an almost tobacco like note to the rum. Some Banana leaf and some slightly vegetal sugar cane notes.

When you sip it is almost Agricole Blanc in some places such is the abundance of vegetal cane in the mix. There is a touch of tree sap and some notes of stoned fruits especially when you try sucking the last of the fruit from a peach and get some of the stone flavour in your mouth. I’ve not really tried sucking on salty stones but its a bit like I imagine that might be like. Slight touch of brine.

I can’t say I enjoy this one as much as Rum Bar Overproof. It’s not as funky and fruity this is more in keeping with Monymusk or Clarendon style of rum. It’s got more savoury notes to it – salty and smoky with a hit of bitter molasses.

I’m not entirely sure what I might use this for either. Other than as a one way ticket to oblivion. It mixes pretty well with Ting but I don’t like it as much as Worthy Park Rum Bar Overproof. I’m struggling to get past the smokiness of this rum to be honest. I’d rather have much more sweetness. It is also quite tobacco heavy and reminds me of a much lighter latin style of rum despite its Jamaican heritage. There is also a real fieryness to this rum in the sense of hot chilli peppers especially when taken at full proof or near to it.

It also has a strange chilli like note on the after taste and the finish which is odd. The finish is pretty difficult to determine as this is a real taste bud tingler and you are left with a slight numbness to your palate. It’s very spicy though – chilli hot. I’ve had to re-visit this a few times to get my feelings down – which is rare for me.

It’s a curious rum and not just a higher proof Rum Bar Overproof. It’s very interesting to try but its not something that is going to really stand out