Demerara Distiller’s Limited 12 YEAR (2009) El Dorado VSG Cask Strength Single Still

Review by: The Auditor

This rum comes to us from Diamond Distillery located in Guyana. This molasses based rum was distilled on the famous “Versailles” single wooden pot still, aged for 12 years in Guyana, then bottled at cask strength with caramel coloring.

Distillery: Demerara Distillers Limited

Bottler: Official bottling.

Still: Versailles Single Wooden Pot Still

Marque: VSG

Region: Guyana.

ABV: 56.2%. Cask strength.

Age: 12 years. Distilled in 2009. Bottled in 2021.

Cask type: Ex-Bourbon

Price: $120.00

Color:  Caramel Color has been added for “Historical Purposes”.

Nose: Dried Fruits, Mango, dark Chocolate, coconut, umami

Palate: Medium oily mouthfeel, Dark Chocolate, soy sauce, Coconut, Black Pepper, coffee, lemon

Finish: Medium length finish, leather, dark chocolate, soy sauce, coconut, Black Pepper

Conclusion: A very good rum from DDL, though not quite as good as the other releases. The full tropical ageing is on display with the oiliness, but the flavors are really disjointed especially on the finish. The addition of caramel coloring as well when the other releases had none left me scratching my head as well. All in all, very good but not quite up to snuff as the others.

Final Score: 85

Scoring Legend:

  • 95-100: As good as it gets. Jaw-dropping, eye-widening, unforgettable whisky.
  • 90-94: Sublime, a personal favorite in its category.
  • 85-89: Excellent, a standout dram.
  • 80-84: Quite good. Quality stuff.
  • 75-79: Decent whisky worth tasting.
  • 70-74: Meh. It’s definitely drinkable, but it can do better.
  • 60-69: Not so good. I might not turn down a glass if I needed a drink.
  • 50-59: Save it for mixing.
  • 0-49: Blech.

Published by The Auditor

Unknown's avatar

I have drank my fair amount of single malt but got started writing reviews about Single Malt and Bourbon in 2018. Over 1000 total reviews later and I focus mainly on Sugar Cane Spirits now. However, single malt is a still a spirits category I enjoy greatly as is Agave and Brandy. I wouldn’t go as far as to call myself an expert but I am the resident Rum obsessed writer for Malt Runners.

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