CDI Armagnac Finish 2007

Compagnie des Indes, the terroir-led French bottler, drew this 2007 Demerara as a single cask at full proof, a 14 Year Old given an Armagnac finish and left unsweetened at 61.2%. The Armagnac cask brings a red-wine-like depth that suits the Guyanese spirit, adding richness without any added sugar to round it off.

The nose runs woody and roasted with dried fruit and a red wine note, and the palate is dry and powerful at first, wood and baking spice over dried fruit, before it opens into gingerbread, cardamom and roasted chestnut. The finish is warm and gently sweet with more dried fruit and oak. There is real finesse in the aromatics, floral and honeyed touches sitting alongside plum jam and mulled wine spice. The Armagnac influence gives this a distinctive twist on cask strength Guyana, plenty of wood and spice to dig into with surprising depth. One for drinkers who enjoy dry, wine-cask-finished rums and want something a little different.