Silver Seal Rum 1999

Silver Seal Rum 1999 is a Nicaraguan single cask from the collector-respected Italian bottler Silver Seal, drawn from one ex-bourbon barrel filled in 1999 and aged 24 years. Column-distilled from molasses, it is presented at a near-50% cask strength in the house's unsweetened style.

Long maturation gives it a smoky, savoury depth unusual for the region. The nose is fresh and woody with roasted notes and a flash of mango, the palate turns warm, woody, roasted and smoky, and the finish carries wood, smoke, anise and tobacco. This is a dry, oak-forward old rum rather than a soft Central American sipper, with plenty of column-still character on show. Some will find the wood and smoke assertive, which is the point, a serious single cask for drinkers who want age and intensity over easy sweetness.