Balan Diamond Family Selection Demerara Rum 2002

Bottled under Balan's Family Selection, this single cask draws on a 2002 vintage from Guyana's Diamond distillery, aged thirteen years in ex-bourbon and confirmed unsweetened. The 46% strength is the classic independent-bottler proof, firm but accessible, and the natural presentation lets the spirit and cask speak plainly.

Diamond's own column distillate is the cleaner, more approachable face of Demerara, so expect molasses and toffee, bitter chocolate and a light woodiness rather than the heavy anise and tar of the pot stills. Ex-bourbon ageing in the house style would be expected to bring vanilla, soft spice and gentle oak. An honest, single-cask Guyanese rum left dry so the distillery character carries the glass.