Silver Seal Diamond Demerara Rum 2004

Silver Seal, the collector-respected Modena house, released this Diamond Demerara 2004 at eighteen years old and cask strength, 55.1 percent. It comes from Diamond distillery stock, matured in ex-bourbon wood and bottled in the unsweetened independent style, showing good depth and a gentle natural sweetness.

The nose offers roasted oak, caramel and dried fruit, with a round palate of wood, roasted notes and coffee, finishing on raisin, chocolate and caramel. Drinkers find some licorice, molasses, citrus and pencil notes alongside a faintly bitter, astringent edge in the finish. The roasted, coffee-and-dried-fruit profile points to the woodier Demerara character behind it. At full proof it is a rich, layered Guyanese rum where eighteen years of barrel give plenty of dark sweetness and wood without any added dosage.