Had the absolute luxury of getting a bottle of this Diamond 2003, distilled with the French Savalle still and bottled in December 2020 at cask strength of 58.1% abv. The cask was specially selected by @valinchandmallet and @interco.mle for @mandedrinks, @alohawhisky and @barmirai, with an outturn of 98 bottles.

(Image Source: @weixiang_liu)

The nose brought lots of warm toast, creme caramel, sprinkles of desiccated coconut and pineapples, and subdued varnish. I also got some marzipan and vanilla, light menthol, and when left to breathe the darker notes of coffee and cocoa come to the fore.

The palate is very inviting, savoury and oily, barbecued pork, Peranakan glutinous rice cakes with coconuts and drizzled gula melaka (palm sugar). In the middle is little hints of iodine, grass jelly, herbal, and menthol all at once. And in the finish is where the fruitier notes reveal themselves, candied apples, more coconut cream, and raisins.

If there’s one thing to note about this Demerara is how unique its profile and how markedly different it is from others, and I love it! I think the bottling age was perfect, and if I may say so a much more balanced and welcoming version of Silver Seal’s 1989 Uitvlugt which was similar in profile, but overpowered by iodine and wood. What a gorgeous rum indeed!

Your occasional rum addict!

@weixiang_liu