Berrys Guadeloupe 12 Year Old Rum (700ml)

Berry Brothers & Rudd, the UK's oldest wine merchant, continue to bottle some excellent spirits under their own label. This gorgeous rum, distilled in 1998, is from Guadeloupe, a department of France, also known as the 'Butterfly island' for it's butterfly shape. It's actually two islands separated by a salt water river. The distilleries here are generally small and family owned. Most of the rum sold on Guadeloupe is of the rhum agricole kind (i.e.- made from freshly squeezed sugar cane juice, rather than molasses).

Tasting note: Deep burnished brass appearance. Perfumed aroma, redolent of dried banana, sweet spice (cinnamon, nutmeg) becoming more brown sugar / molasses like over time. A creamy entry leads into a concentrated, fruity yet dry profile featuring dried banana and spicy fruit cake flavours. Perfect balance. Finishes mildly textural and tannic with sweet cedar, old leather and liquorice strap towards the fade. Impressive staying power. 46% Alc/.Vol.