Silver Seal Diamond Demerara 2003

Silver Seal, the collector-respected Modena bottler, released this 2003 Diamond at twenty years old and full cask strength, 61.1 percent. It comes from the Diamond distillery, home of the Savalle metal column that produces the lighter, cleaner end of the Guyanese range, here given long ageing and bottled in the unsweetened independent style.

Matured in ex-bourbon wood, it noses woody and caramel-led with allspice and a lighter top note, then moves to caramel, dried fruit and raisin on a palate with clear oak. The finish is woody and a touch bitter with allspice and dried fruit lingering. Two decades in barrel have layered plenty of wood spice and dried-fruit sweetness over the cleaner Savalle base, and at this strength it carries that easily, opening further with a little water.