Bristol Enmore Demerara Rum Enmore Still 1988

Bristol Classic Rum, the English specialist in heritage and closed distillery bottlings, drew this from the Enmore estate, home to the world's last operating wooden Coffey still, a greenheart continuous still that gives Guyana its lighter, cedar driven Demerara. Reduced to an easy 43 percent and aged 20 years, it is built for accessibility rather than power.

Matured in ex bourbon and unsweetened, the molasses spirit shows spice, plum, vanilla and leather on the nose, then a leathery, licorice and oak driven palate, closing floral and woody with spice. Some drinkers find the dilution to 43 percent leaves it a touch lean, but the profile stays dry, intense and authentically old school, opening up nicely with a little air. This is a solid stepping stone into mature Demerara, particularly suited to whisky drinkers and to anyone who enjoys dry, leathery Enmore without the cask strength punch.