A blast from the past

Some objects leave more than just a mark; they create an everlasting etching in our mind. The Rockley Still, a copper pot still cast around 1780, is undeniably one of them. This giant, recognized as the oldest rum copper pot still that is still in operation, was distilling in the time of Mozart... Yes. That Mozart! The well-respected David Pym of John Dore Stills has personally vouched for the age and heritage of this very still.  

Its main body was sand-cast in Barbados, with extremely thick copper – 9mm in all - a rarity in a world where standard thickness often doesn’t exceed 3 mm. You can see the effect of the sand casting on the outside of the pot’s main body. Hundreds, if not thousands of little marks all over it, a true sight to behold. 

After sitting idle for decades at Stade's West Indies Rum Distillery, the Rockley was finally saved from oblivion. It took the drive and commitment of a team spread over both sides of the Atlantic and more than 2,000 hours of work to bring this still back to life. 

Shipped for inspection with our master coppersmith, the verdict was good. Despite its age and the marks of time, the Rockley could be restored. The original lower section was moderately well preserved. But its swan neck, an essential piece of the puzzle, had to be entirely recreated if we wanted to distil once more with this fabled piece of equipment. 

Relying on historical research, led by Andrew Hassell, Alexandre Gabriel, and historian David Wondrich, a new swan neck was fashioned, or more accurately, an elephant trunk, given its unusual shape! The copper for this piece came from the old distillery of Antenne in Javrezac, France.  A sustainable choice and one that helped to link our two homes to either side of the ocean. 

The entire assembly was reshaped by hand by our very own Gaylord Urbain, head of the coppersmith workshop at Maison Ferrand. Hammered with hammer and anvil, as in the 18th century, a traditional craft preserved and practiced entirely in-house. This artistry is a somewhat forgotten art, but we are striving to preserve this at Maison Ferrand.

Formation finds flavor

Beyond its striking aesthetics, the Rockley embodies a way of distilling that is now almost forgotten. Its dense structure and its hand beaten rivets - each detail tells of an era when things were built to last. 

But it is its aromatic profile that fascinates us the most. The Rockley produces heavily textured, rich rums, with phenolic and highly esterified notes, amplified by long fermentations. A bold, heavy profile, pillar of the Barbadian style, yet distinct from the extreme acidifications of the Jamaican style.

A shared pride

The official inauguration of the Rockley Still took place with Mia Amor Mottley, Prime Minister of Barbados, celebrating what she called a moment for all the workers of Barbados. The sentiment was echoed by Henderson "Digger" Skinner, who dedicated 45 years of his life to the distillery:

"My father (who also worked with the distillery for over four decades) always spoke to me about the Rockley with stars in his eyes. Seeing it running again is a dream come true."

The Rockley joins other greats within Pot Still Alley today at the distillery such as the Vulcan Triple Chamber, the Old Gregg and the John Dore #88. 

The Rockley is not a relic of the past: it represents a promise. The promise of exploring our past, of celebrating a living history. There is still life in the Old Rockley to be found.