KARUKERA - 12 years old - Vintage 2009 - Single Cask Ex Cognac No. 194 - Conquête Edition - 57% ABV
Karukera is a prestigious rum distillery located in Sainte-Marie, Guadeloupe, at the heart of the emblematic Marquisat de Sainte-Marie estate. In 2005, François Longueteau took over the family agricultural estate and the Espérance distillery, situated in the center of the Marquisat, with a firm commitment to preserve and pass on the artisanal and authentic heritage handed down through generations. The distillery then specialized in producing exceptional white and amber rums, marketed under two recognized and respected brands: Mon Repos and Longueteau rums.
Grégoire Hayot, an engineer by training and then financial director at Damoiseau – another iconic Guadeloupean house – played a key role in modernizing the facilities and building, in 2005, an innovative aging warehouse. Driven by his passion for aged agricole rum, he sought a distillery capable of ensuring perfect control of supply, with fresh and quality sugarcane. His choice naturally fell on collaborating with François Longueteau, with whom he founded the Marquisat de Sainte-Marie company, combining expertise and know-how to promote Guadeloupean rum internationally.
On November 2, 2006, Karukera made its first aging batch from Longueteau distillate via 87 selected 310-liter barrels from the specialist Seguin Moreau. In 2007, the construction of the Karukera warehouse was completed, integrating an optimized aging area, a workshop dedicated to refining white rum, a state-of-the-art bottling workshop, secure storage spaces, a rigorous quality control laboratory, as well as a tourist reception area and an elegant boutique, demonstrating the house's commitment to offering a complete and immersive experience.
This exceptional edition of Karukera, distilled in 2009, was carefully aged in a single Cognac barrel, giving the rum a complex, subtle, and deeply elegant aromatic profile. Bottled at cask strength on July 12, 2021, this confidential cuvée is limited to only 203 bottles, ensuring rarity and exclusivity ideal for discerning enthusiasts and passionate collectors.
