Angel's Share Title
Diamond Reserve 151 Demerara Rum
This rum is produced at the legendary Demerara Distillers LTD. (DDL) in Guyana. The company creates the rum by fermenting molasses and then distilling the liquid in a combination of the company’s heritage stills: a wooden column Still, French Savalle four column Still and the Port Mourant Wooden Pot Still. The rums in the blend are aged in used white oak bourbon casks for one to two years, then blended and bottled at 75.5 ABV.
Diamond Reserve 151 Demerara Rum
Appearance
The rum holds a ruby tinged mahogany color in the bottle, lightening slightly in the glass. Swirling the rum creates a thin band around the glass that drops a set of fast moving legs. The band evaporates quickly, leaving a ring of residue in its wake. The 750 ml short handled bottle’s “Diamond 151” label design makes the bottle pop on the shelves, making it easy to spot. Demerara Distillers Limited is embossed on the glass. The labels share the key details about the rum and even has the Demerara Rum indicator on the back label.
Nose
I poured the rum in the glass and the aroma of dried fruit, brown sugar and syrup filled the air. After the aroma settled, I discovered notes of butterscotch, fresh apples, apricots, dried cherries and raisins.
Palate
The rum has a chewy molasses texture as the alcohol envelops the palate. Notes of vanilla, cacao, butterscotch and the fruit notes from the aroma swirl in fast. Leather, baking spices and dried tobacco notes take over the midpoint and transition into the oak and char notes, leading to a mildly sweet, mineral (graphite) rich finish.
Review
Reviewing higher proof rums is always an interesting experience as the alcohol can, and often does, dominate the flavor profile. In this case, I thought the flavors were well balanced and enjoyed that the signature notes fit perfectly in line with what I consider a “Demerara Rum”. These notes fit in well with tropical cocktails that call for 151 proof rum as an ingredient or float, especially cocktails like the classic 1944 Mai Tai, Zombie or Caribbean Cooler. Moderately priced, this rum is a good value in the 151 category and is worth picking up if you want to experiment with this genre of rum.
