Shakara 12 Year Old

Shakara 12 Year Old is a matured rum from Thailand that represents a lesser-known yet exceptionally interesting rum tradition of Southeast Asia. The brand is backed by La Maison & Velier – a joint project of the French company La Maison du Whisky and the Italian Velier, combining the expertise of Thierry Benitah and Luca Gargano in selecting and introducing authentic global spirits.

The name Shakara derives from the Sanskrit word "shakar", meaning sugar. It refers to the long history of sugarcane cultivation in the mainland part of Southeast Asia, dating back to the Neolithic period. Rum is produced in the fertile province of Nakhon Pathom in central Thailand from molasses sourced from local sugarcane.

It is distilled in a column still and then tropically matures for a full 12 years in bourbon barrels. High average temperatures and humidity between 60 and 80% accelerate the interaction of the rum with the wood while also causing a more significant portion of evaporation. The result is a concentrated, deep, and aromatically rich rum with a long finish.

Shakara 12 Year Old is made without added sugar, flavors, or other additives. Its character is shaped by local raw materials, column distillation, long tropical aging, and the influence of bourbon barrels. The aroma develops notes of almonds, walnuts, honey, caramel, and apricots. The taste brings sugarcane, mango, papaya, fresh figs, and salted butter caramel, complemented by well-integrated oak.

This is an excellent choice for lovers of drier and naturally aged rums who want to explore rum origins beyond traditional Caribbean regions. It shines best neat in a tulip glass, or with a few drops of water.