Some vintages simply linger. 2008 was such a year at Destilerías Unidas in Venezuela - casks that matured into something beyond the ordinary, which the distillery chose to see all the way through with a long finish in sherry casks.
Expert description
Diplomatico Single Vintage 2008 Sherry Cask Finish is a Venezuelan Rum distilled in 2008 and bottled at 43%.
The rum belongs to Diplomatico's Prestige Range, where a Single Vintage is only released in years when selected casks from a single distillation year turn out to have developed exceptionally. The base is cane molasses, and part of the rum's weight comes from the distillery's signature method - batch kettle distillation on pot still - which gives a heavier, more oily rum than most column still-based rums.
After 12 years of maturation in a combination of ex-bourbon casks, ex-single malt whisky casks and new American oak casks, the rum was moved onto first-fill Oloroso sherry casks for a final finishing period. It is here the dark, dried fruits and the spiced sweetness really settle into the glass.
Tasting Notes
Nose
Smoked wood, roasted coffee and dark chocolate settle first, before vanilla and ripe, sweet fruit come forward.
Palate
Full-bodied and round on the palate, with a touch of red berries and a lingering, soft warmth from the sherry casks.
Finish
Long and mild, with a finish of caramel, warming winter spices and a final hint of oak.
Specifications
Name: Diplomatico Single Vintage 2008 Sherry Cask Finish Venezuela Rum
Distillery: Diplomatico
Region/Country: Venezuela
Type: Venezuelan Rum
Age: 12 Years, further matured 1 year in sherry casks
ABV: 43%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Ex-bourbon, ex-single malt whisky and new American oak casks, finished in first-fill Oloroso sherry casks
Distillation method: Batch kettle (pot still)
Distilled: 2008
Edition: Single Vintage, Prestige Range
Serving suggestion: Best enjoyed neat, optionally with a single ice cube
Flavour Profile
Sherry-Matured · Full-Bodied · Spiced · Fruity · Round
Did You Know?
Diplomatico is one of the few rum brands in the world that still distils on a batch kettle - a technique found at only a handful of distilleries globally, and part of the explanation for the rum's heavy, oily character.
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