RomDeLuxe Wild Series Rum Diamond 18 year old MDXC Guyana Single Cask Rum 70 cl 54,9%

On the banks of the Demerara River in Guyana stands one of the world's last surviving wooden pot stills, holding a story few rum drinkers ever get to taste in its purest form. This is where the legendary Versailles still comes from — the source of this 18-year-old single cask, brought home by Danish bottler Rom De Luxe and bottled under the cryptic mark MDXC. A wolf stares out from the label. Behind it sits a cask that was left to mature undisturbed.

Expert's Description

Rom De Luxe Wild Series Rum Diamond MDXC Guyana is a Single Cask Rum from Diamond Distillery in Guyana, matured for 18 years and bottled at cask strength 54.9%. The rum comes from the iconic Versailles pot still, a single wooden pot still that survives today only at Diamond Distillery, after several of Guyana's historic plantation distilleries closed and their stills were gathered under one roof. The MDXC mark identifies this exact still, making the bottle a pure representative of Demerara rum's most characterful style.

The rum was distilled in July 2004 and matured for 18 years in a European, continental climate rather than Guyana's tropical heat. Barrel number 5 yielded 195 bottles in total, originally released as part of the Wild Series Unicorn box alongside two other Diamond marks from the same vintage. Today the bottle is sold individually, without the original box.

Behind the bottling is Rom De Luxe, the Danish rum house that has sought out rare single casks from around the world since 2016 and bottled them without added sugar or colouring, letting the raw character of the distillate and the cask's work speak for themselves in the glass.

Tasting Notes

Nose

The nose is heavy with wet oak and roasted coffee, spiced with a touch of leather and a hint of dark caramel from the long time in cask.

Palate

On the palate it's powerful and oily, with charred wood and pepper up front, while a sweetness of muscovado sugar keeps the strength in check.

Finish

The finish is long and dry, trailing off with liquorice and a light bitterness reminiscent of the strong coffee the nose promised.

Specifications

Name: Rom De Luxe Wild Series Rum Diamond MDXC Guyana
Distillery: Diamond Distillery
Bottler: Rom De Luxe
Region/Country: Guyana
Type: Single Cask Rum
Age: 18 years
ABV: 54.9%
Size: 70 CL
Distillation method: Pot still (the Versailles still)
Distilled: July 2004
Bottled: October 2022
Number of bottles: 195
Edition: Wild Series

Flavour Profile

Woody · Powerful · Spicy · Coffee-forward · Dry

Investment Potential

Medium — single cask rum from a respected independent bottler, released in a very limited run of 195 bottles, tends to be sought after by collectors, especially when it comes from as well-documented a still as Diamond Distillery's Versailles still.

Did You Know?

The Versailles still, on which this rum was distilled, is the last surviving example of its kind in the world — a single wooden pot still that originally belonged to a completely different plantation, before being moved to Diamond Distillery when Guyana's many small distilleries were consolidated into one.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Rom De Luxe Wild Series Rum Diamond MDXC Guyana

What does the mark MDXC mean?

MDXC is Diamond Distillery's internal code for the legendary Versailles pot still, a single wooden pot still that's the last of its kind still standing. Every rum carrying this mark comes from the same historic still, regardless of which bottler chose the cask.

Why was the rum matured in Europe instead of Guyana?

Rom De Luxe chose to move the cask to a European, continental climate rather than leaving it in Guyana's tropical heat. That gives a slower maturation and a smaller angel's share, making the style more restrained than a rum aged entirely in the tropics.

How should a cask strength rum like this be served?

Serve it at room temperature in a narrow-bowled glass, ideally with a few drops of water to open up the aromas. At 54.9% there's plenty of strength to carry a bit of dilution without losing character.

Can this rum be used in cocktails?

It can certainly work in a simple Old Fashioned variation, but with a cask and a run this limited, most collectors and enthusiasts will prefer to drink it neat, so its full complexity comes through.

What's the history behind Diamond Distillery?

Diamond Distillery in Guyana now houses several of the country's historic plantation stills under one roof, including Versailles, Enmore and Port Mourant. As the last independent sugar plantations closed, their stills were relocated to Diamond so the techniques and styles could survive.

Who is behind Rom De Luxe?

Rom De Luxe is a Danish rum house that has specialised in rare single casks from around the world since 2016. It's run today by Michael Ginnerup and Kim Pedersen and has built a reputation for transparency about distillery, vintage and cask type on every bottle.