Project Description
ALTITUDE MATTERS
Maturing spirits at altitude, in a climate that changes dramatically with each passing season, accelerates the barrel-aging process. The result? A spirit that shows complexity and maturity beyond its years, not to mention a healthy angels share.
Maturing spirits at altitude, in a climate that changes dramatically with each passing season, accelerates the barrel-aging process.
HIGHVELD AGING SERIES
As famous for the vibrant purple flowers of Jacaranda trees as the dramatic thunderstorms that punctuate summer afternoons, the Highveld region rests atop South Africa’s dramatic inland escarpment, ranging between 1500 and 2100-meters above sea level. And while summer brings hot days and towering thunderclouds, winter is a season of bone-dry air and crisp blue skies, the indigenous veld thirsty and brown as it waits for the rains. It’s a restless climate, beguiling in its constant evolution and an ideal location for aging spirits in oak casks.
Maturing premium rum at altitude, in a climate that changes dramatically with the seasons, accelerates the aging process as the spirit moves more frequently in and out of the pores of the oak barrels.
In casks matured at sea level, or in a tropical aging environment with a stable daily temperature, between 20-25% of the rum would typically penetrate the pores of the cask after filling. The remaining 75-80% of the spirit would remain in the centre of the cask, rarely making direct contact with the wood.
In many distillery storehouses, barrel-men would traditionally roll the casks to ensure all of the spirit made direct contact with the oak. Today, many distilleries turn to sonic waves, gravity or vibration to achieve the same result. Thankfully, in our Highveld Aging environment, our altitude and climate does the job for us.
Maturing premium rum at altitude, in a climate that changes dramatically with the seasons, accelerates the aging process as the spirit moves more frequently in and out of the pores of the oak barrels.
In casks matured at sea level, or in a tropical aging environment with a stable daily temperature, between 20-25% of the rum would typically penetrate the pores of the cask after filling. The remaining 75-80% of the spirit would remain in the centre of the cask, rarely making direct contact with the wood.
In many distillery storehouses, barrel-men would traditionally roll the casks to ensure all of the spirit made direct contact with the oak. Today, many distilleries turn to sonic waves, gravity or vibration to achieve the same result. Thankfully, in our Highveld Aging environment, our altitude and climate does the job for us.
HIGHVELD AGING UNPACKED
Summers on the South African Highveld bring climatic conditions comparable to a Tropical Aging environment, with the exception of two important climatic conditions.
Firstly, altitude ensures relatively low levels of ambient humidity, while the large diurnal shift in temperature between day and night impacts the movement of spirit through the pores of the oak barrel.
Warmer temperatures accelerate the aging process, estimated at twice the rate or more of continental aging.
Warmer temperatures accelerate the aging process, estimated at twice the rate or more of continental aging.
THE ANGELS SHARE
With higher ambient temperatures and low humidity, water evaporates from the spirit faster than the alcohol, gradually raising the percentage of alcohol-by-volume (ABV).
Highveld Winters are largely typical of a Continental Aging environment, except for the impact of two main elements: the high-altitude location results in a dramatic night-time drop in temperature, and a lack of precipitation creates exceptionally low humidity (the renowned dry Winters of the Highveld).
SLOW & STEADY
Prolonged low temperatures create a stable aging environment for slow maturation, reminiscent of aging conditions in Europe.
ABV ON THE UP
Though temperatures have dropped, the extremely dry conditions mean that water within the spirit is pulled into the dry atmosphere, evaporating faster than the alcohol, again increasing the ABV. A notable difference to Continental Aging.
A constant challenge in barrel maturation is ensuring even wood contact, but the unique Highveld environment is invaluable in maximising maturation potential. As the day warms up and the barrel expands, spirit within the heart of the cask is pushed into the pores of the oak staves. At night, as the barrel contracts in cooler temperatures, the rum is released from the pores of the oak staves to mingle with the spirit. A virtuous cycle of wood contact driven by the climate.
KINETIC MOVEMENT
Fluctuations in temperature, driven by the altitude and season, ensures the rum is constantly on the move.
AIR
Temperature fluctuation leads to changes in air pressure, forcing the spirit into and out of the wood.
Across all four seasons on the Highveld we expect two factors to remain constant. The first is evaporation, due either to the high summer temperatures or dry winter conditions. At the change of seasons, sometimes both of these factors have an effect on spirit maturation.
Secondly, the large diurnal temperature variation due to altitude is notable throughout the year.
CHANGES IN AIR PRESSURE
Temperature fluctuation leads to changes in air pressure, forcing the spirit into and out of the pores of the wood.
Rum in the pores of the barrel during the day are pushed out of these pores at night. New rum gets pulled into the pores the next day and this cycle is repeated. The rum is constantly on the move in a kinetic action, constantly picking up flavour compounds each cycle.
Summers on the South African Highveld bring climatic conditions comparable to a Tropical Aging environment, with the exception of two important climatic conditions.
Firstly, altitude ensures relatively low levels of ambient humidity, while the large diurnal shift in temperature between day and night impacts the movement of spirit through the pores of the oak barrel.
Warmer temperatures accelerate the aging process, estimated at twice the rate or more of continental aging.
THE ANGELS SHARE
With higher ambient temperatures and low humidity, water evaporates from the spirit faster than the alcohol, gradually raising the percentage of alcohol-by-volume (ABV).
Highveld Winters are largely typical of a Continental Aging environment, except for the impact of two main elements: the high-altitude location results in a dramatic night-time drop in temperature, and a lack of precipitation creates exceptionally low humidity (the renowned dry Winters of the Highveld).
SLOW & STEADY
Prolonged low temperatures create a stable aging environment for slow maturation, reminiscent of aging conditions in Europe.
ABV ON THE UP
Though temperatures have dropped, the extremely dry conditions mean that water within the spirit is pulled into the dry atmosphere, evaporating faster than the alcohol, again increasing the ABV. A notable difference to Continental Aging.
ALTITUDE & TEMPERATURE
FLUCTUATIONS
A constant challenge in barrel maturation is ensuring even wood contact, but the unique Highveld environment is invaluable in maximising maturation potential. As the day warms up and the barrel expands, spirit within the heart of the cask is pushed into the pores of the oak staves. At night, as the barrel contracts in cooler temperatures, the rum is released from the pores of the oak staves to mingle with the spirit. A virtuous cycle of wood contact driven by the climate.
KINETIC MOVEMENT
Fluctuations in temperature, driven by the altitude and season, ensures the rum is constantly on the move.
AIR
Temperature fluctuation leads to changes in air pressure, forcing the spirit into and out of the wood.
Across all four seasons on the Highveld we expect two factors to remain constant. The first is evaporation, due either to the high summer temperatures or dry winter conditions. At the change of seasons, sometimes both of these factors have an effect on spirit maturation.
Secondly, the large diurnal temperature variation due to altitude is notable throughout the year.
CHANGES IN AIR PRESSURE
Temperature fluctuation leads to changes in air pressure, forcing the spirit into and out of the pores of the wood.
Rum in the pores of the barrel during the day are pushed out of these pores at night. New rum gets pulled into the pores the next day and this cycle is repeated. The rum is constantly on the move in a kinetic action, constantly picking up flavour compounds each cycle.
THE AGING PROJECTS
The Highveld Aging Series pioneered by Navigate World Whisky was developed to showcase the merits of aging in such a unique environment and to compare it against other aging environments. To showcase the impact of aging spirits on South Africa’s Highveld; situated more than 1500-metres above sea level and nearly 500-kilometres from the nearest coastline.
The Series will allow lovers of premium spirits to delve deeper into the magic of the barrel-aging process. Replica cask bottlings from entirely different aging environments will be bottled side by side, allowing you to taste and compare the differences for yourself. We look forward to sharing these exciting new bottlings with you in the future.
THE INAUGURAL BOTTLINGS
CHAMAREL 2012 MOSCATEL
Tropical Aging > 8 Years
Highveld Aging < 1 Year
CHAMAREL 2014 OLOROSO
Tropical Aging > 6 Years
Highveld Aging < 1 Year
