Blackadder Diamond Raw Cask Rum 2011

Blackadder bottled this 2011 Diamond in its Raw Cask style, a 9 Year Old single cask left unfiltered at 55.7%, sediment and all. Drawn from the Diamond distillery, the home of Guyanese rum, this is a true raw cask presentation that wears its youth and cask strength openly, full of fresh, fruity character with a bit of heat to match.

The nose is sweet and inviting with vanilla, toffee, banana and molasses, and the palate turns spicy and woody with a touch of smoke and more vanilla. The finish brings dried fruit, wood, spice and honey. There is a depth of nut, olive and dried fruitiness behind the fruit that gives it more interest than the age alone might suggest, and the unfiltered presentation keeps everything natural. Diamond's lighter spirit shows here as bold and fruity rather than deep, the youthful heat asking for slow sipping and time in the glass. A characterful, fairly priced cask strength Demerara for drinkers who like their Guyana raw and lively.