Silver Seal Dennery Distillery Superior St. Lucian Rum 1988

Silver Seal Dennery Distillery Superior St. Lucian Rum 1988 is a twenty three year old molasses rum from the long closed Dennery distillery on St. Lucia, bottled by the Italian independent Silver Seal. A collector respected house from Modena, Silver Seal works in the unsweetened indie tradition, and this single origin release is offered at a soft 43% after long maturation in ex bourbon casks.

The rum carries the marks of extended ageing in fairly quiet oak: the nose is woody and a touch musty with barrel notes and a bitter edge, while the palate offers vanilla, caramel and that same musty wood. The finish runs woody with tobacco, barrel and vanilla. Despite its age and provenance the spirit is soft and restrained rather than powerful, leaning more toward a gentle Demerara like sweetness than big character. It suits drinkers who enjoy quiet, low strength sippers and are curious about a vanished distillery, more for its rarity and easy drinking than for intensity.