What is it? Traditional Rum from Guyana (molasses based, single distillery, column still). This was distilled at the Diamond distillery in 1998 using the Enmore wooden column still (cask marque EHP for those that want to know – so a “normal” Enmore). It was then matured in an ex-bourbon cask in Europe for 12 years after which the rum was transferred to an ex-Armagnac cask for a further 8 years for a total maturation period of 20 years; so it’s not really a “finish” here but more of a double maturation. It was bottled in 2019 by Nils Van Rijn from http://www.bestofwhiskies.com under the rum brand The Duchess.

This bottle is 1 of 243 bottles from cask 27.

Not chill filtered, not coloured and bottled at cask strength of 50.8% abv.

Sugar? No.

Nose: Very shy at first – I’ve left my bottle for 2 months before this review so it opens up – it needs air and time. Oak definitely, but the spirit is a lighter style with orange oil, almonds, a little sharp gooseberry, a tiny green olive and some vanilla pod. There is a grape-y note in here as you’d expect from such a long time in Armagnac wood, a few sultanas and I can easily pick out the Armagnac cask that’s for sure, but it’s not too intense or overpowering.

Palate: Medium mouth feel. Edging towards sweet on entry. Ah, big influence from the Armagnac here, almost overpowers the palate due to the lighter style of rum; oak, sultanas, vanilla, raisins, marmalade and then a touch of brine from the rum. Some sweet desert wine of some type and an almost almond’y cherry stone note that cools your tongue right at the end.

Finish: Medium. Doesn’t add much more to what has come before really. Nice, flavourful but brings nothing new to the party. Some peaches and a touch of plum jam if anything really and a small hint of white chocolate.

Thoughts? It’s a nice rum. Quite different to what I’ve had before as it’s very light and the Armagnac cask really does take over – but I guess that was the idea. It’s a solid and very pleasant rum, but not a showstopper. I’m glad I bought a bottle of this for nothing else other than to flip my palate a bit and try something a little different, but for £90 it’s a stretch too far. It doesn’t deliver any “wow” moments, which is a shame as I had high hopes for this, as such it’s not a rum I’d rush out and buy again.