Diamond Kill Devil 2004

Kill Devil, the Scottish whisky house Hunter Laing's single cask rum line, selected this 2004 Diamond bearing the Port Mourant marque, bottled at full cask strength and unsweetened. PM is the double wooden pot still profile, normally oily and anise driven, though at twelve years this is a younger, greener and more herbal take where the still character is still settling. The high proof keeps it lively and untamed.

Molasses based and matured in ex-bourbon oak, it noses on alcohol, flowery and herbal notes and young wood, then carries wood, herbs, spice and tropical fruit onto the palate before a finish of tropical fruit, allspice and a bitter edge. At 61.1% the alcohol sits forward and the nose can read closed, so this rewards rest and a drop of water, where the malt, herbs and jackfruit like tropical funk emerge. A youthful, high proof PM that leans herbal and bold rather than deep and oily, for drinkers who like their Demerara raw and full strength.