The Wild Parrot Diamond 2001

A single cask Diamond 2001 bottled by The Wild Parrot, drawn from the Diamond distillery that now runs all of Guyana's heritage stills. The dark colour and dense dried-fruit profile point to long tropical maturation, where Caribbean heat drives deep oak extraction and high angel's share, concentrating the spirit well beyond its 18 years.

From molasses and matured in ex-bourbon wood at 57.3%, it noses on prune, leather, oak and spice, then delivers caramel, prune, chocolate and liquorice on the palate, with the finish turning leathery, woody and frankly bitter at the close. The single cask, full-proof, unsweetened treatment lets the raw still character show without any softening sugar, and a burnt-sugar tart sweetness underneath balances the tannin. A characterful old Diamond for drinkers who like their Demerara dark and uncompromising.