RomDeLuxe Wild Series Rum Diamond 20 year old MEE Guyana Single Cask Rum 70 cl 59,8%

On the east bank of the Demerara River in Guyana, the world's last working wooden stills are still turning, just as they have for more than a hundred years. This rum came off one of them, the Enmore column, back in February 2002 - and was then left alone on a single cask for two decades.

Expert's Description

Rom De Luxe Wild Series Rum No. 34 Diamond 20 Year is a Single Cask Guyana Rum aged in an Ex-Bourbon cask and bottled at cask strength 59.8%.

This bottle is No. 34 in Rom De Luxe's acclaimed Wild Series, a range reserved for the house's oldest and most distinctive casks. It carries the mark MEE, which comes from the Enmore column - a Coffey-style wooden column still and one of the very last of its kind anywhere in the world, since Diamond Distillery is now the only distillery remaining in Guyana. The rum was distilled in February 2002 and matured its entire life on one single Ex-Bourbon cask, aged fully continentally in the Danish climate rather than in the tropics. That means a slower, gentler maturation, with the wood working on the spirit gradually over the years rather than through the fierce evaporation of tropical ageing. The cask was emptied in October 2022, yielding a total of 195 bottles.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Overripe banana and dark brown sugar arrive first, meeting a touch of polish and varnish typical of Enmore distillate, with dried apricot and a hint of smoked oak sitting underneath.

Palate

Full-bodied and oily, with caramelised sugar, black pepper and a whisper of tobacco, carried by the high strength without ever turning harsh.

Finish

Long, dry and spicy with oak and a lingering sweetness of dark molasses that stays for several minutes.

Specifications

Name: Rom De Luxe Wild Series Rum No. 34 Diamond 20 Year
Distillery: Diamond Distillery
Bottler: Rom De Luxe
Region/Country: Guyana
Type: Single Cask Guyana Rum
Age: 20 Years
ABV: 59.8%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Ex-Bourbon cask
Distillation method: Enmore wooden column (Marque MEE)
Distilled: February 2002
Bottled: October 2022
Number of bottles: 195
Edition: Wild Series Rum No. 34

Flavour Profile

Fruity · Spicy · Full-bodied · Oak-driven · Sweet

Investment Potential

Medium - a single cask release of just 195 bottles from one of the world's most sought-after wooden stills, bottled by a Danish independent bottler with a growing reputation among rum collectors.

Did You Know?

Every bottle in the Wild Series carries its own wild animal on the label - this one bears a wolf, while other releases in the series have featured everything from tigers to bison.

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Frequently Asked Questions about Rom De Luxe Wild Series Rum No. 34 Diamond 20 Year

What makes this rum special?

It's a single cask bottling from one single barrel that yielded just 195 bottles in total. The rum comes from the Enmore column at Diamond Distillery, one of the last wooden stills in the world, and spent all 20 years untouched on the same cask.

Is this rum worth it?

Yes, based on rarity alone. With only 195 bottles from a single cask and 20 years of maturation on one of the world's last wooden stills, this is a rum that rarely returns to the shelves once it's gone.

How should you serve this rum?

Best at room temperature in a rum glass, letting the aromas open up fully. A few drops of water can open it up further if the cask strength feels too intense.

What does the MEE mark mean?

MEE refers to the Enmore column at Diamond Distillery, a Coffey-style wooden column still, which gives the rum its characteristic oily texture and faint varnish note.

What's the difference between continental and tropical ageing?

Continental ageing, which this rum received in Denmark, produces a slower and gentler maturation than tropical ageing in the Caribbean, where the heat pulls more flavour from the wood in a shorter time - but also evaporates far more of the spirit along the way.

Can this rum be used in cocktails?

It can certainly hold its own in a simple Old Fashioned-style drink, but given its complexity and cask strength, it's really at its best enjoyed neat, where every nuance can come through.