Veritas White

The product of distillation is a colorless liquid. White rum, defined by its color (or rather the lack of it), does not allow for reliable or unequivocal conclusions about the raw material used, origin, distillation method, maturation period, alcohol content, or taste.

It is customary for white rum to undergo short or no maturation at all. As a consequence, the distillate exhibits an aggressive, intensely alcoholic profile that almost overwhelms the flavor notes. It has been widely accepted that such rum blends well in cocktails, leading to the common categorization of sipping and mixing rums. That division is not to my liking, as rum should maintain its integral qualities and standards regardless of its intended use.

The creators of Veritas rum - Foursquare, Hampden, and Velier - are united by their affiliation with the Guardians of Rum. The initiative is dedicated to preserving cultural identity through the defense of traditional, authentic, and artisanal practices. Their aim is to establish a classification that is clear to consumers and respected by the competition.

In this context, Veritas rum (Latin for 'truth') becomes a powerful manifesto, as it opposes the standardized and less distinctive rums produced through multi-column distillation on an industrial scale. Veritas doesn't throw down the gauntlet to the competitors, Veritas hits them with it instead.

Veritas is a blend comprising three components. The Jamaican distillery, Hampden, contributes unaged 'Owen Wayne Hussey' low-ester rum, crafted in a double retort pot still. Foursquare, the Barbadian distillery, provides an unaged rum from a Coffey column still, along with a two-year-old pot still rum. The latter imparts a slightly straw-colored hue to the blend, serving as visible evidence of no filtration. Veritas proudly bears the sardonic label 'unsullied by sophistic dosage'. For the Guardians of Rum, not using any additives is a matter of principle.