Velier has won a reputation over the decades for sourcing and bottling some of the highest-quality rums in the world. Their bottlings have included the now legendary Caroni and choice casks from around the world.

As a bottler, Luca Gargano wanted to create a series that would celebrate the very best of the rums he could source. As a keen photographer, he looked to the Magnum Photography agency and the result is the Magnum series.

In this session, Velier’s Daniele Biondi and The Whisky Exchange’s Dawn Davies MW will explore more of the story behind the series as well as how it has evolved and developed.

Few people get to shape a brand or distillery as thoroughly as Joy Spence has done at Appleton Estate. Fewer still get to use that as a springboard to shape what a whole category might mean, but that has been the impact of Joy’s decades of work.

She first studied as an analytical chemist before joining J. Wray & Nephew in the 1980s, working as their chief chemist. By 1997, she became the master blender at Appleton Estate, the first woman in the spirits industry to become a master blender.

Since then, she has gone on to create some legendary rums, including the core range for Appleton as well as special blends like her own 25th anniversary blend and the Appleton Hearts collection.

In this session ,Joy Spence will be joined by Sly Augustin of Trailer Happiness to explore all things Appleton.

Line-up coming soon! 

Alexandre Gabriel is a drinks industry legend. He is the man behind a clutch of brilliant spirits brands including Planteray.

Over the decades, Alexandre has worked to bring together a collection of rums that showcase the best of the spirit and the distilleries that produce it, with particular strengths in Barbados, Jamaica and Fiji.

Alongside cellars in Cognac, Planteray have also been able to explore the differences in climate and cask types on maturation, often to dramatic effect.

More recently, Alexandre has been able to work closely with the Stade’s West Indies Rum Distillery in Barbados and be more closely involved in rum production with exciting new liquid in the works.

This masterclass sees Alexandre joined by The Whisky Exchange’s Dawn Davies MW for an exploration of Planteray’s evolution and a peek at the brand’s future.

Rum history and cocktail culture are closely linked, with rum at the heart of some of our favourite serves, but it is simply impossible to imagine any cocktail bar managing without a bottle of bitters, with some bartenders pushing it to the limits with the infamous Trinidad Sour.

On Trinidad itself, there is a thriving drinks culture with a rich history. The Queen’s Park Hotel has been a driving force for the cocktail scene with their Swizzle and Super Cocktail. Rum is also at the heart of the annual celebration that is Carnival.

Join Georgi Radev from Laki Kane for a deep dive into Trindad and its drinks culture exploring selected Angostura rums with cocktails alongside.

A selection of cocktails and rums will be poured in this class.