Silver Seal Diamond (Itinéraires) 2002

Silver Seal, the collector-respected Italian house from Modena, bottled this 23 Year Old as a single cask of 2002 Diamond, drawn from the distillery that keeps Guyana's heritage stills running. Aged in ex-bourbon wood and presented at cask strength, it shows a fresh, floral side that long maturation has preserved rather than buried.

The nose is fresh and woody with dried fruit and anise, and the palate turns roasted and oily with plum and firm oak, the wood gripping without overwhelming. The finish runs dry with raisin and liquorice. Diamond's Savalle-style spirit is the cleaner end of the Demerara range, and here over two decades of ageing have layered poached fruit, floral lift and spice onto that base while keeping it bright. There is no added sugar to round it off, so the oak and fruit show plainly at full strength. A balanced, classic Guyanese single cask that rewards a little attention from an experienced palate.