Milano Rum Festival & Barmetro Diamond 2003

Bottled for the Milano Rum Festival and Barmetro as a single ex-bourbon cask, this 14 Year Old comes from the Diamond distillery, the home of all Guyanese rum and keeper of the heritage stills. Distilled in 2003 and bottled at a near cask strength 55.8%, it shows an unusually deep, almost dessert-like character for a Diamond, full-bodied and intense without tipping into aggression.

The nose mixes citrus, oak and brown sugar with vanilla, and the palate turns darker and more savoury, tobacco, leather and a smoky edge cut by citrus. The finish carries dark chocolate, green pepper and brown sugar into a long, rich close. Diamond's lighter Savalle-style spirit usually leans toward clean toffee and chocolate, but extended ageing here has built real depth and a roasted, atypical character that sets it apart. There is no added sugar smoothing the edges, just wood, roast and fruit working together. A robust, characterful Demerara for drinkers who like their Guyanese rum bold and a little unexpected.